In his speech during UN General Assembly session, President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera of Malawi emphasized the urgent need for reform in the United Nations and other multilateral institutions, specifically advocating for Africa to be granted two permanent seats with veto power in the Security Council.
He highlighted that strong multilateral cooperation is crucial for nations to survive global crises, such as the natural disasters that have recently affected Malawi, including Cyclone Freddy and El Niño.
Chakwera pointed to Malawi’s development efforts, which include infrastructure and education projects, made possible through international partnerships with countries like the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.
He underscored the importance of global cooperation in fostering Malawi’s sustainable growth.
However, he criticized the inefficiency and unfairness of the global financial system, noting that developing nations like Malawi face growing debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratios that threaten global economic stability.
He warned that if this debt crisis isn’t addressed, it could destabilize economies worldwide.
Chakwera also expressed concerns over unfair global competition and the monopolization of resources, markets, and technology by wealthier nations, particularly in the emerging field of artificial intelligence.
He called for stronger governance institutions to ensure fairness in access to resources and prevent inequities that fuel conflicts, such as those in Eastern Europe, Palestine, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
