The call for change in the United Nations gathered momentum with the issue being raised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe at the Third India-Africa Forum Summit here.

Addressing the plenary session Modi said even though the world is undergoing political, economic, technological, and security transitions on a scale and speed rarely seen in recent history, “yet our global institutions reflect the circumstances of the century that we left behind, not the one we are in today”.

``These institutions have served us well, but unless they adjust to the changing world, they risk becoming irrelevant. We cannot say what will replace them in an uncertain future. But, we might have a more fragmented world that is less capable of dealing with the challenges of our era. That is why India advocates reforms in global institutions,” the Prime Minister said.

Pointing out that this is a world of free nations and awakened aspirations, Modi was of the view that these institutions cannot be representative of our world if they do not give voice to Africa, with more than a quarter of UN members, or the world’s largest democracy with one-sixth of humanity.

``That is why India and Africa must speak in one voice for reforms of the United Nations, including its Security Council,” the Prime Minister said.

 President Mugabe called for amending the United Nations so that it is a, "United Equal Nation".

Calling for amendments to the charter of the United Nations, President Mugabe said, "That organisation is defective. We are unequal and say ‘no’ to that inequality."

Adding her voice to the call for change in the UN, Nkosazana Diamini Zuma, Chairperson, African Union Commission, said the historic injustice of excluding India and Africa from permanent membership of the United Nations’ Security Council needs to be corrected.

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