The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will elect five new non-permanent members to the council today. France took over the Presidency of the powerful 15-member Security Council for the month of June. The United Nations General Assembly last month adopted a decision to hold the Security Council Elections under new voting arrangements taking into account restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

India is the sole candidate for a non-permanent seat from the Asia-Pacific category for the 2021-22 term. Its victory is given since it is the sole candidate vying for the lone seat from the grouping. New Delhi’s candidature was unanimously endorsed by the 55-member Asia-Pacific grouping, including China and Pakistan, in June last year.

Each year the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members out of ten in total, for a two-year term.

The 10 non-permanent seats are distributed on a regional basis. This year, Canada, Ireland and Norway are vying for two seats in the Western Europe and Other countries category, Mexico is the only candidate for the one Latin America and Caribbean seat while Kenya and Djibouti will contest the seat available for the African group.

Beginning in January 2021, the new members will serve a two-year term on the UNSC.