Macron Concludes Africa Visit in Ethiopia With Talks on UN Security Council Reform

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday concluded his visit to Africa with talks in Ethiopia centered on the question of the continent's representation on the U.N. Security Council. Macron held talks with Ethiopian officials and later met with the African Union Commission chairperson and U.N.

Secretary-General António Guterres. The leaders recognized the need for African representation, according to a readout from the meeting. Macron visited Egypt, Kenya and Ethiopia during the trip. He had called for better representation of Africa in international institutions including the U.N.

Security Council. During the Africa Forward Summit co-hosted by France and Kenya, Macron recognized the need for permanent seats for Africa on the council. The summit was held for the first time in an English-speaking country.

A peace and security declaration issued at the end of the summit called for the urgent need for a comprehensive reform of the U.N. Security Council to make it more effective and representative. Africa has long sought permanent seats on the council to reflect current global realities.

Continental bodies have criticized the exclusion of a continent of more than 1.4 billion people from permanent decision-making power. Guterres said the world would benefit from an inclusive U.N. Security Council.

"A Security Council that today does not represent geographically the realities of the world. We have three European permanent members, one North American and one Asian. No Latin American, no African is obviously a Security Council that has a problem of legitimacy, and that brings with it a problem of effectiveness," he said.

After the meeting between Macron and Ethiopian officials, the two sides announced a new loan funding agreement worth $63.9 million for Ethiopia’s green energy investment and digitalization program. During the Africa Forward Summit, Macron said that the French government and private sector would mobilize investments worth $27 billion to spur inclusive growth across the continent.