2017 United Nations Security Council election

2017 United Nations Security Council election

←  2016 2 June 2017 [1] 2018  →
6 (of 10) non-permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council
United Nations Security Council membership after the elections   Permanent members   Non-permanent members
Members before election   Egypt (Africa, Arab)   Senegal (Africa)   Uruguay (LatAm&Car)   Japan (Asia)   Ukraine (E. Europe)   Italy (WEOG) New Members   Ivory Coast (Africa)   Equatorial Guinea (Africa)   Peru (LatAm&Car)   Kuwait (Asia-Pacific, Arab)   Poland (E. Europe)   Netherlands (WEOG)

The 2017 United Nations Security Council election was held on 2 June 2017 during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, held at United Nations Headquarters in New York City. In addition to the regular elections for five of the non-permanent seats on the UN Security Council, there was by-election for a sixth seat held by Italy who relinquished its seat at the end of the year as part of a term splitting agreement with the Netherlands. ^[1] The regular elections are for two-year mandates commencing on 1 January 2018; the by-election is for the remainder of Italy's term. ^[1] In accordance with the Security Council's rotation rules, whereby the ten non-permanent UNSC seats rotate among the various regional blocs into which UN member states traditionally divide themselves for voting and representation purposes, the five regularly available seats are allocated as follows:

• Two for Africa
• One for the Asia-Pacific Group ^[2]
• One for Latin America and the Caribbean
• One for the Eastern European Group

The six elected members began their two-year terms on 1 January 2018, ^{[3] [4]} and continued to serve on the Security Council until the end of 2019. Notably, Equatorial Guinea was elected to the Council for the first time.

Candidates

African Group

As a result of the rotation policy implemented by the Security Council for designation of its temporary seats, two nations from Africa would be selected. Prospective candidates were further limited by internal subdivision within the Africa Group. ^[5]

•   Ivory Coast ^{[6] [1]}
•   Equatorial Guinea ^{[7] [1]}

The two candidates ran unopposed. ^[5]

Asia Pacific Group

•   Kuwait ^{[8] [1]}

Eastern European Group

The Eastern European Group was designated one seat on the Security Council in the election. Poland, having attempted to procure a seat in the past, announced its candidacy, as did Bulgaria. However, the latter dropped out of the race in December 2016, leaving Poland unopposed for the seat. ^[9]

•   Poland ^{[10] [1]}

The two-year tenure will represent Poland's sixth term as a temporary member of the Security Council. Witold Waszczykowski, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, heralded their election as "a great victory for Polish diplomacy". ^[9]

Latin American and Caribbean Group

•   Peru ^{[11] [1]}

Western European and Others Group

Conventionally, there are only five seats available in each UN Security Council election. However, Italy, having claimed the Western European seat the 2016 election, agreed to vacate after one year and allow the Netherlands to take its place. The Netherlands ran unopposed.

•   Netherlands ^[1]

The presence of the Netherlands on the Security Council will represent their first term on the body in twenty years. Minister of Foreign Affairs Halbe Zijlstra said, in a meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, that the Dutch delegation would "focus on themes such as justice and the prevention of conflicts" during its tenure. ^[12]

Result

African and Asia-Pacific Groups

African and Asia-Pacific Groups election results [13]
Member	Round 1
Ivory Coast	189
Kuwait	188
Equatorial Guinea	185
Morocco	1
Guinea	1
abstentions	0
required majority	128

Latin American and Caribbean Group

Latin American and Caribbean Group election results [13]
Member	Round 1
Peru	186
Argentina	1
abstentions	5
required majority	125

Eastern European Group

Eastern European Group election results [13]
Member	Round 1
Poland	190
abstentions	2
required majority	127

Western European and Others Group

Western European and Others Group election results [13]
Member	Round 1
Netherlands	184
abstentions	4
invalid ballots	4
required majority	123

See also

• List of members of the United Nations Security Council

References

1. "Security Council Elections 2017" (PDF). Security Council Report. 24 April 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
2. "Asian group of nations at UN changes its name to Asia-Pacific group", Radio New Zealand International, 2011-08-31.
3. INFORM.KZ (29 December 2017). "Kazakhstan to preside over UN Security Council for first time in history". www.inform.kz.
4. "Kuwait to lead Arab Group at UNSC starting from Monday - Egypt Today". www.egypttoday.com. January 2018.
5. "Security Council Elections 2017" (Research report). securitycouncilreport.org. 24 April 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
6. "President Abbas Calls for Strengthening Palestinian Leadership on World Stage, as General Assembly Moves into Third Day of Annual Debate". United Nations. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
7. "Security Council Initiative". WFUNA. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
8. "Security Council Elections: Options after Saudi Arabia Rejects its Seat". What's in Blue?. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
9. "Poland chosen to join UN Security Council".
10. "Community of Democracies meeting: Suu Kyi receives Geremek Award". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
11. "TEXT FOR DIP NOTE RESPONDING TO PERU'S DIP NOTE REQUESTING SUPPORT FOR CANDIDACY TO UNSC NON-PERMANENT SEAT". WikiLeaks. 19 March 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
12. "Dutch UN security council efforts to focus on preventing conflict - DutchNews.nl". 18 December 2017.
13. "General Assembly Elects Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Kuwait, Peru, Poland as Non-Permanent Members of Security Council for 2018-2019". United Nations. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.