Calls for UN reform across Africa and the Caribbean diaspora have echoed for decades, but 2025 may represent a turning point. African and Caribbean nations are now forming a coalition to demand fairer representation in global governance. Their goal is to rebalance the world’s power structures so that peace, trade, and finance reflect the realities of today rather than the hierarchies of the post–World War II era.
This new coalition isn’t just a political story — it’s a diaspora story. The African and Caribbean peoples share a deep history of resilience and renewal, one that connects across the Americas through shared ancestry and identity. Understanding Who Is the African Diaspora is key to understanding why this moment matters.
⚖️ UN Reform and the Power of the African-Caribbean Diaspora
The foundation of Africa’s call for reform remains the Ezulwini Consensus, adopted in 2005, which asserts the continent’s right to permanent seats on the UN Security Council and equitable voting power across major UN organs.
Despite representing 1.4 billion people, Africa holds no permanent seat — while Europe has two. This imbalance weakens global decision-making legitimacy and mutes the voices of regions most affected by today’s global challenges: climate change, migration, and sovereign debt.
Now, by joining forces with Caribbean states, African leaders are adding diplomatic weight to form a unified Global South bloc, capable of pressing reforms with new momentum.
(Related: The African Diaspora: Driving Africa’s Global Transformation (2025 Edition))
🌎 A United Front Across the Atlantic
This coalition represents more than symbolic unity — it is a strategic realignment of global alliances. Together, African and Caribbean nations can leverage shared cultural, economic, and historical ties to strengthen their negotiating power in international forums.
From climate finance and trade equity to debt restructuring and global digital inclusion, the partnership’s impact could reshape development financing.
For investors, this moment also underscores the growing importance of the African and Afro-descendant diaspora — including Afro-Latinos: Bridging Africa and the Americas — as key participants in Africa’s reemergence on the global stage.
(See also: Africa Finance Its Own Development)
💡 Why the Coalition Matters for the Global South
A stronger Africa–Caribbean bloc can drive tangible change across multiple fronts:
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Development finance: Priorities shift toward Africa’s and the Caribbean’s needs, rather than donor agendas.
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Investment flows: New diaspora-driven financing models like Diaspora Bonds can mobilize local capital.
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Climate justice: Fairer access to global climate adaptation funds.
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Cultural power: Greater visibility for global African voices, including Afro-descendants throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
This is part of a wider shift — from BRICS expansion to the AfCFTA rollout — showing that Africa and its diaspora are shaping, not following, the global agenda.
⚠️ Challenges Ahead
Reforming the UN Security Council remains a steep climb. The five permanent members still hold veto power and have little incentive to dilute their influence.
Within Africa and the Caribbean, sustaining unity will require diplomacy and trust — not all national interests perfectly align. Even if reforms move slowly, the coalition already carries symbolic and strategic value: it tells the world that the Global South will no longer be silent in defining the future of global governance.
🕊️ A Call to the Diaspora
For the global African and Caribbean diaspora, this is a call to action. Advocacy, lobbying, investment, and cultural leadership all play a role.
Diaspora communities can amplify reform efforts abroad — in Washington, London, Brussels, and New York — while simultaneously channeling investment into renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and entrepreneurship at home.
(Learn more: Diaspora Entrepreneurs: Building Global Businesses Across Borders and Return Migration: The Growing Trend of Africans Moving Back Home)
🌐 Toward a Fairer World Order
The Africa–Caribbean coalition for UN reform represents more than a diplomatic initiative. It’s a moral and economic realignment — a declaration that global governance must evolve to reflect today’s interconnected world.
A more representative UN could lead to fairer climate financing, stronger development partnerships, and greater respect for Africa’s global contributions — from Lagos to Kingston, from Accra to Havana.
For the diaspora, it’s both a vindication and an invitation: the movement toward global equality is also a movement toward home.
