Erdogan slams UNSC during African trip

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) - Speaking on Monday in Tanzania, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan slammed United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for keeping only five countries as permanent members. 

"We have to keep on stating the fact that the world is bigger than five. We cannot abandon the world to [decisions made by] five countries," declared Erdogan at a business forum in the Tanzanian capital of Dar es Salaam, during the first day of an official visit to several Southeastern African nations.

Turkish President's opposition to UN's having only the Unites States, China, Russia, Britain, and France as permanent Security Council since its formation in 1945 is not new.

Since 2013, he has been campaigning for incorporation of all nations as UNSC members which would take turns to run the world's most powerful international body.

"There will be Turkey, and Tanzania too," among the states that will have seats at the UNSC, said Erdogan according to the Turkish government-run Anadolu Agency.

Erdogan's proposal for maintaining international peace and security was to allow ten nations to become UNSC members for each two years.

Turkish President previously in January 2015 and November 2016 complained about the lack of "Muslim countries" at the UNSC, urging the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation that has 57 members to demand "this right."

"We have to do this. Once we achieve you will see how the world's fate will change in a very different fashion," added Erdogan, reminding his audience of slavery and exploitation during the European colonialism in Africa.

He went on to defend the Ottoman Empire's presence in Africa as non-imperialist.

Editing by Ava Homa