France says 11 more countries back limiting vetoes at UN Security Council
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The UN Security Council is largely paralysed by vetoes, prompting criticism of the world body’s ability to help end conflict.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- France's initiative with Mexico gained 11 new African backers, including Kenya, to limit UN vetoes. Total supporters now stand at 118.
- The non-binding initiative aims to stop permanent UN Security Council members using vetoes in mass atrocities. It needs 129 total backers.
- Some African nations fear it delays comprehensive UN Security Council reform and better African representation. The Council is often paralysed by member vetoes.
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NAIROBI – France on May 12 said 11 new African countries have backed its joint initiative with Mexico to limit the inappropriate use of vetoes at the UN Security Council.
The plan aims to end the practice in cases of mass atrocities, French President Emmanuel Macron said at the end of a two-day economic summit in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot later wrote on X that “11 new African countries” had given their support during the Kenya summit, taking the total number of backers to 118.
“I invited all countries that have not yet done so to join us,” he added, calling it a “step forward to protect people of the world from mass atrocities: genocide, crimes against humanity and the most serious war crimes”.
New supporters include Kenya, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Mauritania.
The initiative needs 129 backers to reach the symbolic threshold of two-thirds of the members of the UN General Assembly.
France is hoping to secure the remaining endorsements before a General Assembly meeting in September so it can put the resolution to a vote, a diplomatic source told AFP.
The resolution would be non-binding even if adopted by a two-thirds majority.
Officials hope to make it more difficult for a permanent member of the council – Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States – to use its veto in such cases.
The UN Security Council is largely paralysed by vetoes, particularly by Russia and the US, prompting broader criticism of the world body’s ability to help end conflict.
A number of African countries have been reluctant to support the initiative, fearing it might replace a more comprehensive reform of the Security Council and better representation for Africa on it. AFP
