The United Nations General Assembly elected five new non-permanent members to the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the 2025-2026 term.

The countries that have made the cut are Somalia, Pakistan, Panama, Greece, and Denmark.

The election, held on Thursday, saw each of these nations successfully securing the required two-thirds majority vote in the 193-member General Assembly.

These nations will commence their roles from January 1, 2025, taking over from the outgoing members - Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland. Their term will conclude on December 31, 2026.

This election marks multiple tenures for the newly elected members. Pakistan has previously served seven times, Panama five times, Denmark four times, Greece twice, and Somalia once.

The UNSC is composed of 15 members, including five permanent ones: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The ten non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms, with elections held annually for five seats.

The election process adheres to a geographical distribution criterion, allocating two seats to the African Group, one to the Asia-Pacific Group, one to the Latin American and Caribbean Group, and one to the Eastern European Group. To be elected, candidates must achieve a minimum of 129 votes from the General Assembly.

The newly elected non-permanent members are expected to play a crucial role in the UNSC's mission to maintain international peace and security during their term. (ILKHA)