Algeria ousted from Security Council in competitive UN ballot

Algeria has lost its seat on the UN Security Council during the election of new non-permanent members held on 3 June 2025, as reported by the Moroccan government friendly Atalayar.

In June 2023, the United Nations General Assembly elected Algeria to the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member on a two year stint. As the holder of one of three African positions and the only representative of the Arab region, Algeria will continue its fourth non-consecutive term until the country cedes its seat in December 2025. Alongside its North African counterpart, Sierra Leone and Somalia have similarly been voted out.

UN News report that the new elected nations succeeding Algeria include Bahrain, Colombia, Latvia, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. All newly elected seat representatives will begin their term starting January 2026.

Elections are held every year by a confidential ballot, with every country entitled to one vote. As such, guaranteeing a seat on the UNSC council would mean each hopeful nation has to secure a two-thirds majority out of the 193-strong membership count.

While UNSC non-permanent members do not wield the same powers and privileges as the Permanent 5 (P5) members, these nations still enjoy considerable influence in decisions and discussions that affect their particular regional constituencies.

Atalayar/ Maghrebi