Prioritise Africa, don’t turn back on the continent – UN Chief
Prioritise Africa, don’t turn back on the continent – UN Chief
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on the international community to prioritise Africa, urging the world not to turn its back on the continent.
António Guterres spoke at the close of the ninth conference organised by the UN and the African Union (AU) in New York.
The high-level talks focused on progress in implementing cooperation frameworks but also on joint action and challenges in the areas of peace, security, development, human rights and climate action.
“Cooperation between our organisations has never been stronger, or more necessary,” the Secretary-General said.
“Our world is in turmoil, rocked by deadly conflicts, widening inequalities, climate chaos and runaway technologies.
“The impacts are felt deeply on the African continent.”
The Secretary-General outlined three areas where decisive action is needed, starting with simply prioritising Africa.
He noted that the Pact for the Future, adopted in 2024 by Member States, also called for Africa to have permanent seats on the Security Council.
Guterres said permanent seats for Africa on the Security Council means “correcting once and for all an intolerable injustice faced by the African continent.”
He raised concerns about financing for development and innovation, saying Africa has vast resources but “its progress is held back by an outdated and unfair global financial system”.
“The time has come to reform this financial architecture, so it reflects the world of today and better serves the needs of developing countries, particularly in Africa.”
He recalled that “African leadership helped secure the Sevilla Commitment,” an agreement reached by Member States this year, which includes steps to advance issues such as easing debt burdens and lowering borrowing costs.
The Secretary-General said he would urge the G20 group of industrialised nations “to lead on these long-overdue reforms” when he attends their summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, later this month.
On the violent conflicts in parts of the continent, Guterres urged investment in peace, reaffirming his full support for the Silencing the Guns initiative.
“And its time is now,” he added. “Today, Africa is home to too many conflicts and too much suffering.”
On Sudan, he expressed grave concern over recent reports of mass atrocities and gross human rights violations in El Fasher and worsening violence in the Kordofans.
He also voiced alarm over rising insecurity in the Sahel and highlighted other situations across the continent, including in Mali, South Sudan, Somalia, Libya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“The world must not turn its back on Africa, home to nearly one-fifth of humanity,” the UN chief stressed.
He warned that “the stakes are too high. And the potential is too great.”
Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said the AU-UN partnership have aligned their respective development agendas.
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Youssouf said they also are working closely on flagship peace programmes, including the AU’s efforts to ‘Silence the Guns’ by 2030 and are now “very much involved” in advancing climate justice and energy transition.
He also highlighted commitment to work with all parties and stakeholders at the UN on Security Council reform.
“These reforms are indeed of paramount importance and would ultimately consolidate the multilateral system,” he said.
He said the two organisations also face financial strains and “need to adapt our actions and programmes to the new realities.”
Youssouf said both organisations also must continue to support peace operations, the fight against terrorism, conflict prevention and resolution, and focus most of their efforts on humanitarian affairs.
