Abuja: Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for a major reform of global governance structures, particularly the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), to reflect contemporary world realities and maintain global peace. Jonathan, who is the Chairman of ISCP-Africa, made the call while speaking virtually at the International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP) conference held in Manila, Philippines.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the former president said the future of the rules-based world order would not be secured by power alone but by collective commitment to fairness, dialogue, accountability, and human dignity. He noted that the rules-based international order had contributed significantly to global stability, economic progress, and cooperation among nations. Jonathan, however, emphasized that like all human institutions, the order must evolve to reflect changing realities and rising expectations.
He highlighted that for the system to retain the confidence of all peoples and nations, its pri
nciples must be applied with fairness, consistency, and transparency. Jonathan stated, “This is why the longstanding calls for reforms in global governance structures, particularly the United Nations Security Council, deserve thoughtful consideration.”
Nearly eight decades after the founding of the United Nations, Jonathan pointed out that many regions, including Africa, remain under-represented in institutions that shape decisions affecting global peace and security. “Africa is home to 54 sovereign states and more than 1.5 billion people, yet it lacks permanent representation on the security council,” he said. Addressing such imbalances, he argued, is not about prestige but about strengthening legitimacy, enhancing effectiveness, and ensuring that global institutions reflect contemporary realities.
Jonathan argued that calls for reform from Africa and other parts of the developing world should be viewed as contributions toward making the international order more inclusive, representative, and responsive. H
e noted that the increasingly interconnected world demanded greater cooperation, stronger partnerships, and a renewed commitment to multilateralism.
“The push for reforms should therefore not be viewed as a contest between regions or civilisations nor an attempt to replace one form of dominance with another,” he said. Instead, Jonathan encouraged seeing it as an opportunity to build a more balanced international system based on mutual respect, shared responsibility, and genuine partnership.
He stated that the present generation has the responsibility not only to preserve peace but also to strengthen institutions that reflect the aspirations and realities of all peoples. Commending the theme of the conference, Jonathan noted that the meeting occurred during a time of profound global change, particularly when geopolitical tensions were increasing across regions.
Jonathan also highlighted that conflicts are becoming more complex, economic uncertainties persist, and confidence in international institutions is
being tested. At the same time, humanity faces common challenges such as climate change, food insecurity, migration pressures, terrorism, cyber threats, and the rapid advancement of emerging technologies. He stated, “These realities have prompted important debates about the future of the international system that has guided global cooperation for decades.”
He concluded by expressing his belief that these developments offer an opportunity to strengthen international cooperation and renew collective commitment to peace, justice, and shared prosperity.