[Al-Jazeera] UNHSC - Clashing claims of Unity and Neocolonialism

After an opinionated post-lunch meme session and lots of cross-talking at the United Nations Historical Security Council, debate finally went back on track.

Nigeria presented itself as a leader for Africa, seeking to act through the African Union to address the Rwandan crisis. Backed by China, Russia, and Argentina, Nigeria emphasized its large army, peacekeeping experience, and openness to collaboration.

But its leadership bid faced skepticism, especially from Rwanda, which questioned Nigeria’s neutrality and pointed to its internal instability and recent coup. France and the UK echoed concerns, citing the AU’s weak framework and limited capacity. France insisted its expertise was necessary, while denying neo-colonial motives.

Under New Zealand’s presidency, the Council pushed for African involvement but warned against turning the mission into a Western-led effort: “this is not a French mission, but a UN mission, [...] we want African involvement with essential knowledge on the ground”. The U.S. proposed splitting the UNAMIR (i.e. United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda) mandate, balancing African leadership with international support.

Nigeria’s ambition highlights a broader tension: calls for African ownership in peacekeeping versus doubts over the AU’s readiness to lead. The Council remains divided between trust and caution.

In a surprising turn during today’s session, the Non-Permanent Members of the Security Council have begun to unite in unanimously rejecting a P5 proposal to establish an additional UN mission. This collective pushback signals growing frustration among smaller nations over being sidelined in major decisions and reflects a rare moment of cohesion challenging permanent member dominance.