At the official launching of its candidacy for the non-permanent membership at the United Nation Security Council (UNSC), Ethiopia announced its intentions to push for the adoption of more proactive and preventive conflict resolution mechanisms at the UNSC especially regarding conflicts in Africa.
Ethiopia is seeking the council’s non-permanent membership, which is allocated to the Africa Group for the term 2017-18. Its candidacy has already been endorsed by the African Union during its 26th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Governments held in January.
During an occasion held in Sheraton Addis on Monday, Tedros Adhanom (PhD), minister of Foreign Affairs, pointed out why Ethiopia is looking to fill the seat. He recalled that Ethiopia was one of the 51 pioneer countries that founded the United Nations in 1945. He also added that his country was one of the few countries actively engaged in the adoption of the organization’s Charter at the San Francisco Conference.
Accordingly, Ethiopia’s deep-seated conviction to the ideals of collective security goes back much further, Tedros said. It was one of the only two African countries to have founded the League of Nations.
“Despite the fact that we were unable to count on the League’s support during our hour of need in the 1930s, Ethiopia’s firm conviction and unwavering commitment to multilateralism has never diminished,” the minister said to the vast number of diplomats and guests who were attending the event.
“We have always striven for a strong and effective multilateralism that treats all member states, on an equal basis and in accordance with international law no matter how powerful or weak they might be,” he said.
Recalling the struggle Ethiopia made against colonialism and the sacrifice it paid for pan-Africanism, Tedros promised his country is ready to face the current security challenges and terrorism along with the international community. “The growing threats posed by terrorism have undermined the maintenance of international peace and security as never before. Indeed, Ethiopia strongly believes that these global challenges to peace and security necessitate a new level of collective action and enhanced international cooperation,” he said.
Tewelde Mulugeta, spokesperson of Ministry, told The Reporter that Ethiopia has targeted some specific objectives while seeking the membership at UNSC. The ongoing and potential conflicts in Africa appear to be the issues in mind. For Tewelde, taking preventive measures and putting in place conflict warning mechanism should be priority number one for a body like UNSC.
“Traditional conflict resolution mechanisms have been less effective. We are looking to push more dialogue and roundtable discussions to resolve disputes; particularly the ones that Africa is facing” he said.
He also added that the country would help at restructuring the UN Security Council Architecture. “The UN has to work closely with regional and sub-regional blocks” he stressed, convinced that these local organizations are well endowed with the specific knowledge and practical experience to local conflicts.
While citing some exemplary works, Tewolde referred to IGAD and how it has played a role in the Horn of Africa, including Somalia and South Sudan. The spokesperson says it is Ethiopia’s firm stand that more position and responsibility has to be given to regional security organizations. He stressed that there needs a formal and structured cooperation between them and the UNSC.
Ethiopia serves as the major hub of multilateral diplomacy in Africa, hosting the headquarters of the African Union, the UNECA, and various international organizations. The United Nations System in Ethiopia is one of the largest in Africa. Addis Ababa is presently the third largest United Nations duty station in the world after New York and Geneva.
Ethiopia also reportedly hosts more than 800,000 refugees from neighboring countries, probably the largest number in Africa.
Calling for the diplomat’s commitment that their countries have to vote in favor of Ethiopia, Tedros said: “If elected to the Security Council, Ethiopia will serve all members of the United Nations in discharging the charter–mandated responsibilities bestowed upon it in a true spirit of partnership and transparency. We believe we have the commitment, the strength and the ability to offer real and valuable support to multilateralism, and to Pan-Africanism”.
Ethiopia has served on the UNSC twice so far: from 1967 – 1968 and 1989 – 1990. Since the inception of the United Nations, it’s also reported that Ethiopia has deployed over 80,000 military and police personnel to more than ten peacekeeping missions worldwide.
