Rwanda has called for urgent reforms to the United Nations Security Council, pressing for permanent African representation to reflect the continent’s growing population and central role in global conflicts.

Speaking at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Olivier Nduhungirehe, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said the council’s current structure “does not reflect today’s realities.” He emphasized that Africa, home to 1.2 billion people and the focus of many of the UN’s conflict interventions, cannot remain excluded from permanent membership.

Nduhungirehe positioned Rwanda as a proactive partner in multilateralism, highlighting the country’s support for a cost-efficient and decentralized UN system, including hosting UN agencies. He reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, noting that innovation, connectivity, and inclusive growth are critical to narrowing development gaps.

The minister also advocated for a transition from aid to trade as a means of empowering developing nations. “Development aid must serve as a tool for solidarity and progress, not as a weapon of coercion,” he said, stressing the importance of self-reliance through mutually beneficial partnerships.

On peace and security, Nduhungirehe drew on Rwanda’s experience in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi to underline the need for civilian-focused peacekeeping. He cited Rwanda’s contributions to UN and African Union peace operations, including leadership in implementing the 2015 Kigali Principles on the Protection of Civilians and mobilizing resources for the African Union Peace Fund, now exceeding 400 million US dollars.

Rwanda also contributes troops and support to bilateral operations in the Central African Republic and Mozambique, assisting with state-building, capacity development, and counter-terrorism efforts. “For most conflicts, lasting peace cannot be achieved through military means. Only genuine, good-faith dialogue offers a sustainable path toward global peace,” Nduhungirehe said.