Namibia exerts pressure on UN over council seats

Namibian President Hage Geingob has called on the UN to shun the culture of exclusivity by working on a plan to make the world body more reflective of the changing geopolitical landscape. New Era reports that Namibia has remained steadfast in demanding two permanent seats on the UN Security Council for African member states. ‘We do so in the belief that it is unjustified for 54 countries – who represent 1.2 bn of the world's population – to be denied a place among the permanent seats of the UN Security Council. We are convinced that democratisation of the UN Security Council will render effective the maintenance of international peace and security,’ Geingob is quoted in the report as saying. He added that Namibia should seize the opportunity offered by the changing geopolitical landscape to pursue its national interest in building relations and partnerships that allow for increased trade, value-addition, innovation and shared prosperity.