African Group

Last updated
Group of African States
AbbreviationGAFS
Formation1964;59 years ago (1964)
Type Regional group
Legal statusActive
A coloured voting box.svg   Politicsportal

The Group of African States, or African Group, is one of the five United Nations regional groups and is composed of 54 Member States from the African continent. The African Group is the largest regional group, and compose 28% of all United Nations members.

Contents

The Group, as with all the regional groups, is a non-binding dialogue group where subjects concerning regional and international matters are discussed. Additionally, the Group works to help allocates seats on United Nations bodies by nominating candidates from the region. [1] [2]

Role

The Group, as with all the regional groups, plays a major role in promoting the region's interests. It provides a forum for Member States to exchange opinions on international issues, carry out follow-up on the topics that are being discussed in international organisations, build common positions on complex issues and prepare statements reflecting the joint position of the Group. [3] [4]

However, most importantly, the Group allows for the discussion and coordination of support for candidates for different United Nations organisations from the region. [1]

Member States

The following are the Member States of the African Group: [5] [6]

Representation

Security Council

The African Group currently holds three seats on the Security Council, all non-permanent. The current members of the Security Council from the Group are: [7] [8]

CountryTerm
Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon 1 January 2022 — 31 December 2023 [9]
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 1 January 2022 — 31 December 2023 [9]
Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique 1 January 2023 — 31 December 2024

Economic and Social Council

The African Group currently holds 14 seats on the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The current members of the Economic and Social Council from the Group are: [10] [11]

CountryTerm
Flag of Liberia.svg  Liberia 1 January 2021 – 31 December 2023
Flag of Libya.svg  Libya
Flag of Madagascar.svg  Madagascar
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe
Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 1 January 2019 — 31 December 2021
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali
Flag of Benin.svg  Benin 1 January 2020 — 31 December 2022
Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana
Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo
Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon

Human Rights Council

The African Group currently holds 13 seats on the United Nations Human Rights Council. The current members of the Human Rights Council from the Group are: [12] [13]

CountryTerm
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 1 January 2021 — 31 December 2023
Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon
Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 1 January 2019 — 31 December 2021
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon
Flag of Eritrea.svg  Eritrea
Flag of Somalia.svg  Somalia
Flag of Togo.svg  Togo
Flag of Libya.svg  Libya 1 January 2020 — 31 December 2022
Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania
Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia
Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan

Presidency of the General Assembly

Every five years in the years ending in 4 and 9, the African Group is eligible to elect a president to the General Assembly. [14]

The following is a list of presidents from the Group since its official creation in 1963: [15]

Year ElectedSessionName of PresidentCountryNote
196419th Alex Quaison-Sackey Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana
196924th Angie E. Brooks Flag of Liberia.svg  Liberia
197429th Abdelaziz Bouteflika Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria
197934th Salim A. Salim Flag of Tanzania.svg  United Republic of Tanzania Also chaired the 6th and 7th emergency special, and 11th special sessions of the General Assembly
198439th Paul J. F. Lusaka Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia
198944th Joseph Nanven Garba Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria Also chaired 16th, 17th and 18th special sessions of the General Assembly
199449th Amara Essy Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Côte d'Ivoire
199954th Theo-Ben Gurirab Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia Also chaired the 22nd, 23rd and 24th special sessions of the General Assembly
200459th Jean Ping Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon
200964th Ali Abdussalam Treki Flag of Libya.svg  Libya Also chaired the 29th special session of the General Assembly
201469th Sam Kahamba Kutesa Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda
201974th Tijjani Muhammad-Bande Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Future
202479thTBATBA
202984thTBATBA
203489thTBATBA

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