The United Nations General Assembly has elected Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Latvia, and Liberia as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council for a two-year term starting January 1, 2026.
The Security Council, consisting of 15 members, is the only UN body authorized to make binding decisions, including the imposition of sanctions and the authorization of military action.
It includes five permanent members—Britain, China, France, Russia, and the US—each wielding veto power. The remaining ten members are elected, with five new countries rotating in each year.
Bahrain, Colombia, DR Congo, Latvia, and Liberia will succeed Algeria, Sierra Leone, South Korea, Guyana, and Slovenia.
To ensure fair geographical representation, seats are distributed among regional groups. However, even if a country is unopposed from its group, it must still obtain the backing of at least two-thirds of the General Assembly.
Bahrain secured 186 votes, DR Congo received 183, Liberia gained 181, Colombia achieved 180, and Latvia earned 178.
On Monday, former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was elected as the president of the UN General Assembly. This process faced significant criticism domestically and internationally concerning her nomination and qualifications. The new president will assume office in September for a one-year term.
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