UNITED NATIONS, Jan 03 (APP): Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Latvia, and Liberia on Friday took their seats as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Their two-year term officially started on Jan. 1, but Friday is the first working day of the 15-member Council for 2026 after the Christmas and New Year’s break.
They join the other five non-permanent members – Pakistan, Denmark, Greece, Panama and Somalia – who will serve through the end of 2026, alongside the five nations who are permanent members with veto power – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
A flag installation ceremony was held to mark the start of the new members’ responsibilities.
Under the UN Charter, the Security Council has primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. It is the only UN body whose decisions are legally binding on all Member States.
It can investigate disputes, urge parties to resolve conflicts, impose sanctions, authorize peacekeeping operations and – in exceptional circumstances – approve the use of force. Its resolutions shape international responses to armed conflicts, terrorism, and nuclear proliferation.