African leaders push for AU seat at UN Security Council during Nairobi summit

Heads of State and Government attending the Africa–France Forward Summit in Nairobi have pledged to deepen cooperation aimed at strengthening continental stability and self-reliance. The leaders agreed to support African Union-led institutions, alongside partners such as France, to enhance Africa’s strategic autonomy, resilience, and collective security. They also called for the African Union to be granted permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council, saying it would improve responses to insecurity driven by terrorism, coups, illegal arms trade, human trafficking, and other illicit activities