UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a strong call for urgent and decisive measures to tackle the ongoing challenges of climate change, conflict, and persistent poverty in Africa during his address at the reopening of the renovated Africa Hall in Addis Ababa on Monday.
Guterres highlighted the immense potential of Africa, describing it as a continent full of hope. However, he pointed out that it continues to be plagued by deeply rooted issues, including historical inequalities that have been further intensified by the effects of climate change, ongoing conflicts, and entrenched poverty. African women, in particular, he noted, continue to bear the brunt of these hardships. The UN chief stressed the importance of taking “resolute action and strengthening solidarity” to effectively address these challenges.
Guterres also turned his attention to the limitations of global institutions, many of which were established during colonial times and have not evolved to meet the aspirations of modern African nations. He underscored the absence of permanent African representation on the UN Security Council, calling it a significant injustice that needs to be corrected. “Africa still has no permanent seat, and this must change,” he remarked, expressing hope for imminent reform.
In addition, Guterres criticized international financial institutions for failing to provide African countries with the necessary support, particularly in terms of managing overwhelming debt and dealing with the climate crises they did not cause. He urged for these systems to be reformed, stating that they are outdated and often leave African nations struggling without adequate assistance.
The UN chief emphasized the need to reform global systems to make them more fair, inclusive, and effective. He cited the recent adoption of the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations as steps toward a more transparent and accountable Security Council, along with advocating for groundbreaking reforms in international financial systems to scale up development and climate financing for African nations.
“We must act swiftly to implement these agreements,” Guterres said, urging the international community to take immediate action. He also stressed the importance of involving young people in every step of the process, emphasizing that their participation is key to ensuring sustainable progress.
