Olivier Nduhungirehe has strongly criticised what he described as the misuse of veto powers by permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, saying it continues to undermine global peace efforts and delay urgent action on security crises.
He made the remarks on Monday, May 11, 2026, during a high-level ministerial dialogue on UN Security Council reform held on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi.
The meeting brought together ministers and senior officials from Africa and beyond, alongside representatives from France.
Nduhungirehe said the veto system has increasingly been used as a political tool by permanent members to influence decisions and block consensus, often paralysing the Council’s ability to respond to humanitarian and security emergencies.
The veto power is held by the five permanent members of the Security Council — China, United States, United Kingdom, Russia and France — each of which can block substantive resolutions.
Rwanda said repeated use of the veto has weakened the UN’s credibility in handling global conflicts, particularly in situations requiring urgent humanitarian intervention.
The minister pointed to stalled international responses to the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2025, where divisions among major powers slowed consensus on security and accountability measures.
African countries have repeatedly called for African-led political solutions and dialogue mechanisms to address regional instability, including long-standing tensions between Rwanda and the DRC.
Officials say the debate over veto reform reflects growing frustration with the current global governance system and its limited ability to respond effectively to modern security challenges.
