Maputo (AIM-New Ziana) -Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi last Thursday requested diplomatic support for his country’s bid to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

President Nyusi made the request when he received letters of credence from six ambassadors and one high commissioner.

The envoys who presented credentials included Francisco Branco of East Timor, Constant-Serge Bouda from Congo-Brazzaville, Saudi Arabia’s Fahad bin Abdullah Al-Issa, Pham Hoang Kim of Vietnam, Choi Won Sok of South Korea, Walid Elmeligy from Egypt and Wezi Moy of Malawi.

Mozambican Foreign Minister Veronica Macamo told the media soon after the ceremony that President Nyusi had made the request while also expressing the willingness of his government to develop and strengthen ties with the six countries.

The UN Security Council is made up of 15 members, 10 of which are non-permanent and elected for 2 year terms.

In June this year five of these positions are up for election with the successful candidates taking up the posts on 1 January next year.

Permanent membership of the Security Council was granted to five states which were the victors in the Second World War namely China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Calls have been growing for the Security Council to be reformed to reflect the new world order with major concerns being that developing countries are under-represented, there are no permanent members from either Africa or Latin America and the five permanent members enjoy veto power, a privilege which they frequently abuse.

AIM-New Ziana