Africa’s Voice at the UN: Tanzania demands reform, justice

New York. Tanzania has reaffirmed Africa’s stance on reforming the continent’s representation in the United Nations Security Council, urging the adoption of at least two permanent African seats with full veto powers.

It condemned the resurgence of violations of international law and the use of force to resolve disputes, a trend causing severe human suffering, particularly among children, women, the elderly, and the sick in conflict zones.

Vice President Philip Mpango said this on Thursday, September 25, 2025, when addressing the 80th session of the UN General Assembly at the organisation’s headquarters in New York, United States.

In a press release issued by the Vice President’s Office, Dr Mpango, representing President Samia Suluhu Hassan, said Tanzania also joins other nations in calling for urgent and comprehensive reforms of the international financial system.

He urged increased funding for long‑term concessional financing, reform of independent credit rating systems, and rethinking of debt sustainability assessments to secure investment for infrastructure, education, health, and climate change resilience.

“Tanzania reiterates its resolve to see greater African voice and representation in the governance structures of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB), reforms long overdue,” he said.

He stressed that neo‑colonial attitudes, including seeing Africa as a source of resource extraction and land grabbing, and the continued success of multinational corporations benefiting from the exploitation of Africa’s resources while fuelling or sustaining conflicts, must end.

The Vice President said Tanzania considers unilateral actions and misuse of military force, as well as the failure of the international community and powerful states to halt bloodshed and destructive wars, as unacceptable.

He also called on the world to acknowledge that rising military expenditure, including research and production of weapons, is regrettable and contrary to moral values.

“This undermines efforts to achieve global peace and diverts resources that could advance sustainable development and human welfare,” said Dr Mpango, stressing that peace must remain a global priority, as it is essential for social and economic progress.

He commended the UN Secretary‑General, world leaders, and organisations engaged in mediation and conflict resolution in countries and regions such as eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Russia, Ukraine, and the Middle East.

“I call for the full inclusion of women in peace processes, especially as we mark 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and the progress in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment,” he said.

Furthermore, Dr Mpango noted that Tanzania’s first female President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has set a path for policies and actions that strengthen women’s roles in all sectors of society.

He said regionally and internationally, she has championed peace, justice, security, and clean cooking energy.

The Vice President said Tanzania, as a member of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council and former Chair of the Political, Defence and Security Committee of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), has contributed significantly to peace initiatives, preventive measures, and conflict resolution.

He added that Tanzania has declared its candidacy for a non‑permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2029–2030 term, affirming its commitment to global peace and security.

According to Dr Mpango, Tanzania remains committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2030), having attained 60 percent progress.

“On Goal 3, Tanzania reduced maternal mortality from 750 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 104 in 2022. On Goal 6, access to safe and clean water in rural and urban areas rose from 32 percent and 55 percent in 2000 to 79.9 percent and 94 percent in 2024, respectively,” he told the global body.

“On Goal 7, affordable clean energy, Tanzania expanded village electrification from 8,587 in 2000 to 12,318 in 2024, with only 15 villages still without electricity,” he added.

The Vice President urged the international community to strengthen a collective response to climate change.

He called for effective use of the COP30 meeting in Brazil to ensure commitments are implemented, including contributions to the Loss and Damage Fund, increased long‑term concessional financing, technology transfer, and fair trade terms to enhance domestic revenue mobilisation and ensure mutually beneficial resource cooperation