Seychelles Demands UN Security Council Reform and Veto Restraint at Nairobi Meeting
VICTORIA, Seychelles — Foreign Affairs Minister Barry Faure called for urgent UN Security Council reform at a ministerial meeting convened on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, arguing that the council’s current structure undermines the credibility of the multilateral system. Seychelles demanded that permanent members voluntarily refrain from using the veto in situations involving genocide, crimes against humanity, and large-scale war crimes. The ministerial meeting was co-convened by France and Kenya.
For small nations such as Seychelles, a reformed and accountable Security Council represents a cornerstone of global justice. The current veto arrangement allows powerful states to block action even in the most extreme humanitarian crises, a situation that erodes public confidence in the United Nations and weakens its ability to uphold international peace and security. Meaningful African representation within the council is essential if global governance structures are to remain legitimate and responsive to contemporary realities.
Minister Faure reaffirmed Seychelles’ unwavering support for the Common African Position on Security Council reform, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora. He announced Seychelles’ backing for the Franco-Mexican Initiative, which calls on permanent members to voluntarily refrain from exercising the veto in cases involving mass atrocities. The minister stressed that any commitment regarding veto restraint must be applied universally, consistently, and without selectivity by all permanent members of the council.
The minister noted that the use of the veto in mass atrocity situations risks undermining international legal obligations and eroding the institutional authority of the Security Council itself. He further cited the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which clarifies the legal duties of states to protect the climate system, as evidence that international legal accountability is increasingly relevant to global governance. Africa’s demand for equitable permanent representation remains a central element of the Common African Position.
The Seychelles delegation emphasised that reform is both urgent and necessary to preserve the effectiveness of the multilateral system at a time when geopolitical tensions are placing it under severe strain. The Republic of Seychelles remains committed to principled multilateralism and the peaceful settlement of disputes. Without structural reform, the council risks becoming an instrument of great power competition rather than a guarantor of international peace and security.
Seychelles will continue to advocate for a Security Council that reflects the diversity and aspirations of all member states in multilateral forums.
