Mozambique was last week elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council along with Switzerland, Malta, Ecuador, and Japan.
President Nyusi said, “The agenda of the United Nations Security Council is occupied 60 percent by African problems. This means that we must, as the representative of the continent and even though we are few, carry the profound message, carry the unheard voice to address the issues of our continent.
So, it is a lot of responsibility because the expectations are high. As you saw we were endorsed by 192 countries. It also means an opportunity for Mozambique to be able to transmit its experience and contribute to the world’s solutions in the security sector.”
Do you think that the weak representation of the African continent in the United Nations Security Council may be an obstacle to Mozambique’s performance in front of the African group to put the security problems in Africa at the centre of attention?
He replied, “Certainly yes, but perhaps we would use the term “it’s a challenge!” There are difficulties, but we must fight to see if we can impose ourselves. And how is that done? It’s carrying this voice, being there, and going there to say that things must change. I was giving examples that new governance and administration processes are more prosperous, and are successful, especially when you bring power closer to those who need it.
So, to take in more African countries means to gather more sensitivities, and more unity to transmit problems of those that take up more space [on the agenda]. I was saying that 60% of the problems in the Security Council are African issues. The presence of these people who are there and who need to be heard and their problems to be solved is fundamental. So, we will continue in the line of the Africans, on the issue of UN reforms, specifically in the Security Council.”
Do you think it will be possible during your mandate to ask for at least two permanent seats for Africa, as some African heads of state suggest, and at least three non-permanent seats?
President Nyusi said, “Well, we are not demagogues, and many of the times we don’t like to dream, what we like is to make things happen. We will give our best as far as we can, but that is our intention.”
Could you share with us what Mozambique will stand for as Africa’s representatives?
President Nyusi replied, “No to terrorism, no to the proliferation of weapons, we are champions of risk management, Mozambique, and I personally, in disaster management, we are also going to stand up for environmental protection, gender balance, and much more. But, no to war, that is fundamental!”
Author: Staff Writer
