Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the 39th African Union Summit. Secretary General: the absence of African countries among the permanent members of the Security Council “cannot be justified” UN
In a world of growing divisions and mistrust, the African Union remains the “flagship of multilateralism.” This was stated by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, speaking on Saturday at the summit of the African organization in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
He thanked the countries of the continent for supporting UN initiatives and assured that partnership with Africa remains his priority.
According to the UN chief, since the beginning of his mandate, cooperation between the UN and the African Union has been built on respect, constant dialogue and mutual support. During this time, joint mechanisms were created in the field of peace and security, sustainable development and human rights, interaction developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and new partnerships emerged.
The Secretary-General recalled the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2719, which paved the way for predictable funding for peace support operations led by the African Union.
Global governance reform
Separately, the Secretary-General focused on the issue of reform of the UN Security Council.
“The lack of permanent African seats on the Security Council is indefensible. Now it’s 2026, not 1946,” he emphasized. “When decisions are made about Africa and the world, Africa must be at the table.”
Conflicts on the continent
The UN chief called for intensified efforts to resolve crises.
In Sudan, he said, the parties must immediately cease hostilities and return to negotiations on a comprehensive and inclusive political process. In South Sudan, an African Union initiative provides an opportunity to renew dialogue.
Speaking about the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Secretary General emphasized the need to comply with obligations, including an immediate ceasefire and respect for the territorial integrity of the country. He also mentioned the importance of consolidating the gains achieved in the Central African Republic, advancing the political process in Libya and strengthening coordination in the Sahel and West Africa. The UN chief also reiterated his disappointment at the lack of agreement in the Security Council on a funding mechanism for the African Union mission in Somalia.
Finance and development
Developing countries face a huge gap in financing the Sustainable Development Goals – about $4 trillion a year, Guterres recalled. At the same time, many African countries pay significantly more on loans and lose large amounts of money due to illicit financial flows.
He called for expanding the capacity of multilateral development banks, lowering borrowing costs and reforming the international financial architecture so that African states are fully involved in decision-making.
Climate justice
Africa, according to Guterres, has enormous potential in renewable energy, but receives only a small share of global investment.
“Stop exploiting. Stop robbing. The people of Africa must benefit from Africa’s resources,” he said, advocating for fair value chains and job creation on the continent.
Priority – Africa
In conclusion, the Secretary-General emphasized that talk about the “farewell” nature of his participation in the summit does not correspond to reality.
“I can guarantee that until the last moment of my mandate, Africa will be the number one priority for the UN,” he said, adding that after his term ends at the end of 2026, the continent will remain his focus.