New York City, September 23, 2025 – Zambia’s former Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU), Ambassador Emmanuel Mwamba, has called for urgent reforms within the United Nations (UN) system, stressing that modernization is essential if the global body is to effectively tackle today’s geopolitical and humanitarian challenges.
Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Heads of State and Government Summit, Amb. Mwamba said the UN’s 80th anniversary should serve as a defining moment to restructure its institutions and decision-making processes.
Central to his remarks was criticism of the UN Security Council’s current makeup. He described the exclusive veto power of the five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—as structurally unjust, noting that it leaves Africa and much of the Global South without meaningful representation.
He warned that this imbalance has eroded the UN’s credibility, pointing to its diminished role in mediating major crises, including the war in Ukraine, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and humanitarian emergencies in Africa’s Sahel, Horn, and Great Lakes regions.
Drawing from his own experience, Amb. Mwamba cited his tenure as Zambia’s envoy to the AU when the country served as Vice-Chair of the Committee of Ten (C-10), which champions Africa’s common position on UN reforms. He urged stronger partnerships between the C-10, the “Uniting for Consensus” group, and the “Article 109 Coalition” of academics and civil society organizations to advance meaningful change.
The former envoy also threw his support behind the “UN80” reform proposals introduced by Secretary-General António Guterres in March 2025, which aim to streamline the UN’s operations and enhance its effectiveness.
Concluding his appeal, Amb. Mwamba encouraged member states to use the 80th anniversary not only to address institutional reforms but also to reinforce protections for the family unit, which he described as the foundation of society deserving state protection.
Ambassador Mwamba is currently attending the UN General Assembly High-Level Week (September 22–29, 2025), which marks eight decades since the UN’s establishment.
