By: GOSHU MELISEW
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a major overhaul of the international financial system, decrying its failure to adequately support Africa's development needs.
Briefing journalists Jointly with AU Commissioner Moussa Faki Mahamat after the 8th AU-UN Conference, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the critical need to reform the global financial architecture to ensure that African countries receive the resources necessary for sustainable development, debt relief, and equitable access to financial tools.
"Africa faces enormous obstacles to its development, deeply rooted in its colonial legacy," Guterres stated, adding that many African countries gained independence with distorted economies designed to benefit colonial powers.
He also noted how contemporary global challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, have worsened the economic strain on African nations, leaving many drowning in debt and unable to meet the basic needs of their citizens.
The Secretary-General also underscored the importance of strengthening human rights protections and enhancing efforts toward peace and security across the continent.
“We work together very effectively in the perspective that unites us,” Guterres said, noting the shared vision of an Africa where citizens enjoy their full rights and live in dignity.
He pointed to the ongoing efforts in prevention, mediation, and peace building as vital components of this collaboration, which seeks to address conflicts plaguing both Africa and the broader global community.
Guterres announced a joint working group between the UN, African Union, and Economic Commission for Africa to develop a strategy for closing Africa's digital and artificial intelligence divides.
He expressed a commitment to ensuring that technological advancements help African countries accelerate their development rather than exacerbate existing inequalities.
"Africa is a young continent," Guterres said, adding that young African scientists must be at the forefront of innovation and artificial intelligence, rather than being held back by systemic inequalities.
Guterres, concluded his remarks by urging the international community to urgently address financial injustices, including debt concession, that have hindered Africa's growth, presenting a hopeful vision for the continent's future.