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How are nonpermanent members of the UN Security Council selected?

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Taking prisoners — diplomacy A larger-than-life Ramses II towering over his prisoners and clutching them by the hair. Limestone bas-relief from Memphis, Egypt, 1290–24 bce; in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo.

Nonpermanent members of the United Nations Security Council are elected by the General Assembly to serve two-year terms. To ensure equitable regional representation, the 10 nonpermanent seats are distributed among specific geographic groups:12

Africa and Asia: 5 members
Eastern Europe: 1 member
Latin America: 2 members
Western Europe and other areas: 2 members

Each year, the General Assembly elects five new nonpermanent members to replace the five that retire, maintaining a staggered rotation. This elective function is one of the primary responsibilities of the General Assembly, which oversees the composition of various UN bodies to ensure broad participation in international decision-making.12