Rwanda’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Martin Ngoga, called on the UN Security Council to treat all countries equally under international law. He said powerful states should not be allowed to break rules while weaker countries are punished. The debate took place during a session organized by Somalia.
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Selective Application Undermines Trust
Ambassador Ngoga said that international law is often applied selectively. “The law is enforced only when convenient. Political will is proclaimed but not implemented,” he said. He added that the problem is not the lack of international law, but the lack of consistent and genuine political will to enforce it fairly.
Civilians at Risk Amid Inaction
Ngoga warned that civilians suffer when the Security Council delays action. “This Council hesitates while people are being killed. Ethnic persecution continues as debates drag on,” he said. “Ignoring violations and applying the law selectively erodes trust faster than any weapon.”
Call for Equal Treatment of All States
The ambassador stressed that security concerns should not depend on the country raising them. He said selective enforcement damages confidence in the UN. “The issue is not whether we need to uphold international law. The issue is whether we apply it equally to all countries, big or small,” he added.
Strengthening Global Cooperation
UN Secretary-General António Guterres also criticized the selective enforcement of international law. He said powerful countries often decide what is allowed and what is forbidden. Ambassador Ngoga concluded by urging regional and international organizations to take a more active role. He called for stronger cooperation among UN bodies to enforce international law fairly.
