UN: Reform or Disappear

Multilateralism is described as being in "clinical death," with the United Nations, the institution meant to embody humanity's collective conscience, slowly fading under the weight of its own inertia. Algeria, during its non-permanent membership on the Security Council ending December 31, 2025, consistently pushed a message now validated by history: reforming the UN is not merely an option, but a condition for the survival of multilateralism itself.

Through Amar Bendjama, who was recognized as "diplomat of the year 2025," Algeria stressed that the Security Council requires reform in both its composition and working methods. Central to this reform is the demand, clearly articulated by the African Union, that "Africa is not a favor. Africa demands the correction of a historical injustice." The Consensus of Ezulwini and the Sirte Declaration outline a path forward, but the political will to follow it is lacking.

The paralysis is evident. In 2024, a record eight vetoes blocked seven resolutions. In 2025, the United States and Russia alone prevented substantive action on Gaza and Ukraine, conflicts devastating the world while the UN remains silenced by its own rules. The veto power, initially conceived as a consensus mechanism in 1945, has become a tool of impunity, with its cost now measured in human lives.

Furthermore, the UN faces a "grave legitimacy problem," as noted by the Secretary-General himself, a rare admission from an institutional head. The Security Council's architecture remains frozen in its 1945 configuration, despite radical global changes. Africa, with 54 states and 1.4 billion people, has zero permanent seats. Asia, representing half the world's population, has only one. Latin America has none. The five permanent members are victors from an eighty-year-old war. Governing the world of 2026 with the map of 1945 is likened to using a telegraph to pilot a satellite.

Finally, the UN faces financial asphyxiation. By February 2026, only 55 of 193 states had paid their contributions, with the United States, responsible for 22% of the regular budget, accounting for 95% of arrears. The Secretary-General has warned of "imminent financial collapse," a stark reality meaning peacekeeping operations falter and humanitarian programs retract. The UN suffers not just from a budgetary deficit, but from a deficit of political will among its founders.