UN Secretary-General António Guterres has reiterated his call for global institutional reform, highlighting the need for two permanent seats on the Security Council for Africa and stronger financial support to address the continent’s challenges.
Guterres said this on Monday at the inauguration of the renovated Africa Hall in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
The UN chief celebrated the building’s historic and symbolic importance for Africa’s unity and progress.
“This hall is where Africa came together to give life to the Organisation of African Unity, now the African Union,” he stated, acknowledging the transformation of the continent from its early days of independence to the present.
“I also see it as an invitation for everyone to cooperate in pursuit of a better future, for Africa and for the world,” he said in a statement.
Guterres highlighted Africa’s hope and promise but stressed the challenges the continent still faces, such as climate change, conflict, and poverty, heightened by historical challenges and inequalities.
Moreover, he called for the reform of global institutions that remained outdated, especially highlighting the absence of a permanent African seat on the UN Security Council.
“Let’s hope it will be corrected soon,” he shared in his statement, especially as there is now a consensus between all Member States that installing “two African members as permanent members of the Security Council” is essential for reform.
Guterres further stressed the importance of the recently adopted Pact for the Future, which addressed the need for reform in the Security Council and international financial architecture.
“We can only move forward if we also renew and update global institutions, by making them more effective, fair and inclusive.”
He also mentioned the Global Digital Compact which includes the first truly universal agreement on the governance of Artificial Intelligence, “giving every country a seat at the table, while supporting partnerships to bridge the digital divide and build AI capacity in developing countries and namely in Africa.
“We must now move forward together in implementing these historic agreements without delay,” the UN Secretary-General said, reaffirming the United Nations’ commitment to working towards peace, unity, and prosperity for Africa and the world.
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