Ethiopia to play a prominent role in the UN security council- Jakkie Cilliers

Ethiopia recently won a seat to the United Nations Security Council following an overwhelming vote.

The Eastern African country will serve on the world body’s Security Council for a period of two years, starting from January 2017.

Speaking to Africanews, the Head of African Futures and Innovation at the Institute for Security Studies Jakkie Cilliers, says that Ethiopia will play a prominent role in the council.

“Ethiopia is an important player in terms of peace and security on the African continent. It has been for a number of years the largest troops contributor on peacekeeping in Africa. It hosts the African Union and in the horn of Africa, it is extremely significant in Somalia, in Sudan and elsewhere. Si I think that this reflects in a sense Ethiopia’s status as a, emerging peace and security power in Africa,” said Cilliers.

“It is also important to recognise that Ethiopia was the African candidate. It was elected buy 185 of the member states and it was out forward by the African Union as the consensus candidate to replace Angola on the council.”

The UN Security Council has five permanent members – US, UK, Russia, China and France - and 10 non-permanent members.

Ethiopia was elected to the Council with 185 votes out of 190 votes cast. The council has the primary responsibility for international peace and security.