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Africa Should Help Russia Fight 'Monster' Called the Western World, Nigerian Academic Says

19:17, 22 August 2024

Muhammad Nooh Osman

Writer/Editor

Last week, Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio said that Africa demands two permanent seats in the UN Security Council to ensure fair representation and meaningful participation in the UN body. He also called for the veto to be abolished or "extend it to all new permanent members as a matter of justice."

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In an interview with Sputnik Africa, Professor Sadeeque Abba, a Lecturer in Conflictology and Alternative Paradigms at the University of Abuja, Nigeria, shared his views regarding the need for Africa to secure at least two permanent seats on the UNSC.

According to Prof. Abba, Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio's assertion highlights the increasing discontent among African nations regarding their representation within the UN, where “Africa cannot say or do anything.” The UN is perceived by many as failing to adequately cater to the needs and interests of African countries.

“What is happening at the UN is worse than what happened under the League of Nations, so I will not be surprised in the nearest future if other countries of the world, not only Africa but other countries from other continents of the world begin to agitate for more seats and, if not realistic, for the dissolution or the closure of the UN as an organization that is not helping mankind in any way,” said the professor.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Africa Demands Two Permanent Seats on UN Security Council, Sierra Leone's President Says

13 August, 12:56

Regarding President Bio’s call to liberalize veto powers within the UNSC, Professor Abba emphasized the importance of democratizing the council.

“If the western world believes in democracy, and they are not pretending, they are not misleading us, certainly they should liberalize and democratize the UN Security Council by admitting more people and liberalizing the veto powers,” he asserted.

In addition, the African academic criticized Western nations, which he said were eager to exploit Africa's resources while resisting any move that would allow the continent to take control of its own future in global affairs.

“They are all in Africa looking for one thing or the other, and we accommodate them, even though sometimes against our wish. We don't want them to be here… but they don't want to agree that we should take our destinies into our hands,” he noted.

Recently, Russia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Dmitriy Polyansky, supported Africa’s UNSC bid, highlighting the enduring impacts of colonialism on African societies. In the same vein, Professor Abba emphasized Russia's potential role as a catalyst for change within the UNSC, calling for African nations to assist Russia in fighting the "monster" called the Western world.

“Russia as a country is a model to African countries. Putin, as a president of Russia, is a model to African leaders and presidents. So virtually, if Russia, out of its own goodwill and good consciousness, decides to assist Africa as a member of the UN Security Council with a greater power, maybe with the support of China, to help Africa to achieve this,” he told Sputnik Africa. “We are going to clap, we are going to celebrate and we are going to thank them.”