Morocco’s Security Council bid carries a strong African diplomatic dimension

15:15

By: Azzat Manal

Morocco’s Security Council bid carries a strong African diplomatic dimension

Morocco’s decision to seek a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2028-2029 term marks a new stage in the Kingdom’s diplomatic engagement with the UN’s main body responsible for international peace and security. Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita announced the candidacy in New York during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, presenting it as part of Morocco’s commitment to multilateralism, international law, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

If elected, Morocco would return to the Security Council for a fourth term, following previous memberships in 1963-1964, 1992-1993 and 2012-2013. UN records identify Morocco as a member of the African regional group, placing its candidacy within the broader framework of African representation at the Council.

The African dimension is particularly significant because the Security Council includes 10 non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms. Under the current regional allocation, five seats are assigned to African and Asian states, while the remaining seats are distributed among Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Western European and other states.

A Moroccan presence on the Council could provide another platform for addressing security challenges affecting Africa, including armed conflicts, terrorism, peacekeeping operations and cross-border threats. These issues frequently require coordination between the United Nations and the African Union, making the relationship between the Council and African institutions an important part of international peace and security discussions.

African representation at the Security Council has long been linked to efforts to ensure that the continent’s priorities receive greater attention in international decision-making. The African Union has repeatedly called for stronger representation and closer coordination between African members serving on the Council. The so-called A3 grouping of African elected members has also been used as a mechanism for coordinating positions on issues affecting the continent.

For Morocco, the potential seat would also provide an opportunity to connect security questions with broader development concerns. African peace and stability are increasingly discussed alongside issues such as migration, food and water security, energy, economic development and the effects of climate change. These interconnected challenges often require both political and development-oriented responses.

The Kingdom could also draw on its diplomatic relationships across Africa when engaging with other Council members and UN institutions. However, any influence generated by a non-permanent seat would depend on the ability to build coalitions and reach agreements with other members rather than acting independently.

Unlike the five permanent members, non-permanent members do not have veto power. They can participate in deliberations and vote on Council decisions, but any resolution on substantive matters requires the necessary majority and cannot be adopted in the face of a veto from a permanent member. The Council currently consists of five permanent and 10 non-permanent members.

The election itself will therefore be an important diplomatic stage. Non-permanent members are elected by the 193-member General Assembly, with regional distribution and countries’ contributions to maintaining international peace and security among the considerations established by the UN framework.

Morocco’s candidacy consequently goes beyond the objective of returning to a UN body it has already served on three occasions. It places the Kingdom within a wider African and multilateral diplomatic context at a time when the continent faces complex security challenges and when debates over the future representation of Africa at the Security Council remain active.

For Rabat, a successful campaign would provide a two-year platform to participate directly in discussions and votes on international peace and security. For the wider African agenda, its significance would depend on how effectively Morocco coordinates with African partners and contributes to discussions linking continental priorities with the work of the United Nations.