Vice President Jessica Alupo has called on the UN Security Council Reforms to deliver tangible results for Africa.
Alipo said during the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Convened under the AU’s 2026 theme: “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.”, the summit brought together leaders from AU member states.
Alupo who represented President Yoweri Museveni reaffirmed Uganda’s position on the proliferation of peace initiatives and the externalization of African conflicts, which she said undermine the efforts of the African Union.
“We support the report of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union on its activities and the state of peace and security in Africa for January–December 2025. Uganda also supports the draft Memorandum of Understanding between the African Union, the Regional Economic Communities, and the Regional Mechanisms on the utilization of the African Standby Force,” she said.
The Vice President commended the Federal Government of Somalia for steps taken to accelerate critical national priorities and urged both the federal government and federal member states to remain open to inclusive political dialogue and cooperation.
“Division complicates the fight against Al-Shabaab terrorism,” she noted.
Alupo reiterated the call for the preservation of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity, and stability of the Federal Republic of Somalia. She also urged the African Union to continue its engagement with the United Nations Security Council on the application of Resolution 2719 on Somalia.
She reminded the summit that on December 21, 2025, President Museveni, in his capacity as Chair of the Regional Oversight Mechanism for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the region, hosted an urgent ad hoc summit in Entebbe. The meeting aimed to address the escalating security and humanitarian situation in eastern DRC and its regional implications, while identifying responses to the root causes of the conflict.
On Sudan, the Vice President welcomed the Sudanese National Initiative for Peace announced on December 22, 2025.
“We support its full implementation in alignment with the AU Roadmap for the Resolution of the Conflict in Sudan. There can be no viable and sustainable military solution to the ongoing conflict,” she said.
She called for an immediate, permanent, and unconditional cessation of hostilities to pave the way for an inclusive, Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned comprehensive political dialogue.
Alupo also noted Uganda’s support for the adoption of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Utilization of the African Standby Force.
“We commend the Co-Chair of the African Platform for Children Affected by Armed Conflict and the Commission for championing the child protection agenda in situations of conflict,” she added.
Address to the Committee of Ten (C-10)
The Vice President also addressed the Committee of Ten (C-10) African Union Heads of State and Government on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council, chaired by H.E. Dr. Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone.
She expressed gratitude to all members of the C-10 for their unwavering commitment to advancing the Common African Position (CAP) on the reform of the United Nations Security Council since its adoption in 2005, and for remaining united in that pursuit.
Alupo said the C-10 has made significant progress in promoting and canvassing support for the CAP through diplomatic engagements with relevant stakeholders and interest groups within the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) and other multilateral platforms.
She noted that amid a period of global upheaval and uncertainty in multilateralism, this is the time for Africa to demand that the five permanent members of the UN Security Council demonstrate genuine political will to consent to comprehensive reform of the Council — making it more inclusive, just, equitable, transparent, responsive, democratic, and relevant.
“We reiterate our demand to rectify the historical injustice against Africa, which should not be perpetuated any longer, and for Africa to be prioritized as a special case for adequate representation on the UN Security Council,” she said.
She stressed the need to build “the Africa we want” in line with the vision of the African Union — cohesive, secure, prosperous, united, and speaking with one voice on all matters, including the UN Security Council reform process — to foster the maintenance of international peace and security and global development.
Alupo further emphasized that comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including the Security Council, is essential to keeping pace with contemporary geopolitical realities and challenges.
“We are committed to the mandate given to us by the African Union to promote, advocate, and canvass for support of the Common African Position on the reform of the United Nations Security Council, as stipulated in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration,” she said.
The Vice President expressed satisfaction with the African Union model on the reform of the UN Security Council, noting that it aligns with the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration.
She stated that Africa must be represented on the UN Security Council by no fewer than two permanent seats with equal prerogatives and privileges of permanent membership, as well as two additional non-permanent seats.
“As members of the C-10 and the African Union, we must vigorously pursue the reform process of the UN Security Council to achieve tangible results,” she said.
“We must continue speaking with one voice consistently and avoid positions or affiliations that conflict with the Common African Position.”
The Vice President added that adequate financing for C-10 activities is also essential.
“Therefore, I urge the AU Commission to consider providing sufficient funding and support to facilitate the work of the C-10,” she said.
She concluded by urging members to remain steadfast in their demand for immediate and comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council and for adequate representation of Africa in both the permanent and non-permanent categories, in line with the Common African Position.
However, she warned that any further postponement of the Council’s reform process undermines Africa’s interests, the maintenance of international peace and security, and global development.
