U.S. President Joe Biden has expressed strong support for Nigeria’s quest to secure a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. In a recent phone call with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, Biden emphasized that his administration remains committed to expanding Africa’s representation within the council, according to Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
During the 30-minute call, Biden reportedly stated, “I don’t see why Nigeria should not have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council,” underscoring the country’s importance on the African continent and in international affairs. The conversation between the two leaders occurred amid recent developments, including the release of Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, on October 23.
“The United States is committed to seeing Africa with two permanent seats on the Security Council,” Tuggar quoted Biden as saying, echoing longstanding calls within Africa for greater representation in the UN’s most powerful body.
Currently, Africa holds three rotating seats on the 15-member council, and each year, the UN General Assembly elects five new members for two-year terms. However, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Ambassador to the UN, noted that rotating seats do not give African countries the consistent influence needed to address issues disproportionately impacting the continent. “These elected seats don’t enable African countries to fully contribute their knowledge and voices to the council’s work,” Thomas-Greenfield said during a UNGA session.
Nigeria’s defense minister, Mohammed Badaru, also underscored Nigeria’s qualifications during the 79th UN General Assembly last month, highlighting the country’s contributions to global peace and security. Tuggar confirmed Biden’s recent assurance and added that discussions between the U.S. and Nigeria also touched on Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to join the G20, another sign of Nigeria’s growing role in international governance.
