Somalia and France back two permanent African seats with veto at UN Security Council

At a Security Council session, Somalia demanded and France reaffirmed support for granting Africa two permanent seats with veto power.

• Somalia's deputy envoy Mohamed Rabie Youssef demanded two permanent African seats with full membership rights, including veto, plus five non-permanent seats.
• Youssef cited the African Union's Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration as the basis for the demand.
• France's deputy envoy said Paris supports two permanent African seats with the same rights as current members, including veto.
• France will host a conference to raise funds for the African Union Peace Fund and called for implementing Resolution 2719 on financing AU-led peace operations.
• Britain's deputy envoy Kate Foster renewed UK support for permanent African representation on the Security Council during the session.