Guterres Calls for Urgent Reform of the UN Security Council’s Outdated Structure

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres acknowledged that it “makes complete sense” to argue that the composition of the UN Security Council no longer reflects today’s realities. He noted that the body was designed to correspond to the world order of 1945, which undermines both its legitimacy and effectiveness in addressing modern global challenges.

Algeria has strongly defended Africa’s presence in the Security Council, stressing that the continent remains underrepresented despite its demographic weight and growing geopolitical influence. Algiers argues that Africa must have a stronger voice in global decision-making processes to ensure fairer representation and to better address issues that directly impact the continent.

The debate over restructuring the Security Council has been ongoing for years, with many nations pressing for broader representation. However, disagreements among member states have so far prevented concrete changes, leaving the Council’s post-World War II framework largely intact.