Sierra Leone returned as a non-permanent member of the Security Council after an absence of 53 years, and previously, the country's civil war was among the thorniest concerns on the Security Council's agenda 25 years ago.
The African Union's Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government on the reform of the U.N. Security Council (C-10) has consistently advocated for two permanent seats on the Security Council, an additional two seats in the non-permanent category, and the abolition or extension of the veto power to all new permanent members.
Africa has no permanent representation on the U.N. Security Council, despite a Security Council reform in the mid-1960s that expanded membership from 11 to 15.
The United States has announced its support for expanding the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council to include two seats for African countries.
Since its establishment in January 1946, the only permanent seats on the U.N. Security Council have been held by the nuclear-armed victors of World War II: the U.S., the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union (now Russian Federation), China, and France.
The United States has recently announced its support for expanding the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council to include two seats for African countries.