DRC, Liberia join UN Security Council as Nigeria misses out amidst rising insecurity

DDM News

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Liberia have secured seats on the United Nations Security Council as non-permanent members.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the election, conducted at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, June 2, 2025, saw five countries chosen in total.

The elected nations, Bahrain, Colombia, DRC, Latvia, and Liberia, will begin their two-year term in January 2026 and serve through the end of 2027.

These countries will occupy non-permanent seats on the Council, which is responsible for maintaining global peace and security.

Out of 193 UN member states, 188 participated in the vote, which required only a single round of balloting.

In the African and Asia-Pacific regional group, Bahrain earned 186 votes, the DRC secured 183 votes, and Liberia received 181 votes.

One nation in that regional category abstained from voting.

In the Eastern European group, Latvia obtained 178 votes, while 10 countries chose to abstain.

Meanwhile, in the Latin America and Caribbean group, Colombia won with 180 votes, and eight countries abstained.

Except for Latvia, all the elected nations have previously served on the Security Council.

Colombia has served seven times, making it the most experienced among the elected.

The DRC has previously been on the Council twice, while Bahrain and Liberia have each held a seat once before.

Latvia’s election marks its first time as a member of the influential body.

After the vote, representatives of the five elected countries addressed the media at the UN headquarters in New York.

They expressed their hopes and intentions as incoming members of the Security Council.

The DRC’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Francophonie, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, highlighted her country’s long-standing experience with conflict.

She stated that the DRC would bring vital insights into peacekeeping and the protection of civilians.

According to her, the DRC’s own struggle with protracted wars gives it a unique understanding of how natural resources and environmental factors intertwine with conflict.

She emphasized that the DRC’s goal is not to advance personal interests but to contribute meaningfully to global peace efforts.

Wagner asserted that the DRC’s experiences reflect broader global issues, not just isolated national problems.

Her comments underscore the DRC’s desire to approach its role with a humanitarian perspective.

Similarly, Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, conveyed a message of unity and purpose.

She stressed the importance of collective effort in building a just and equitable global order.

Nyanti pointed out that although countries come from different cultures and worldviews, they are united by a shared vision for peace.

She said Liberia would bring its post-conflict transformation experience into discussions around international peace and security.

Liberia has often been hailed for its peaceful democratic transitions in recent years, especially after two brutal civil wars that ended in 2003.

The Security Council comprises 15 members: five permanent (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and 10 non-permanent.

Non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms, and five are replaced annually to ensure geographical representation.

The Council holds authority to impose sanctions, authorize military interventions, and mandate peacekeeping operations.

Being elected to the Security Council is often seen as a significant diplomatic victory for any nation.

It allows countries to influence major international security decisions and to shape peacekeeping strategies globally.

The rotating seats are allocated regionally to ensure fair representation across continents.

Each regional group nominates its candidates, usually unopposed, although voting still occurs.

With mounting conflicts worldwide, from the Middle East to Ukraine and across Africa, expectations are high for the incoming members.

The international community will look to them for innovative contributions to peacebuilding and diplomacy.

Their selection comes at a time of increasing global tensions and shifting geopolitical alliances.

As new members prepare for their responsibilities, observers anticipate how their past experiences will shape Council debates and decisions.

The inclusion of countries like the DRC and Liberia reflects the UN’s continuing emphasis on involving post-conflict states in high-level global governance.

Their roles could offer practical perspectives on peace, drawn from first-hand experience with conflict resolution and state rebuilding.

The five countries will formally assume their seats on January 1, 2026, joining ongoing discussions on some of the world’s most pressing security challenges.

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