{"id":85324,"date":"2026-05-13T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/in-addis-ababa-guterres-urges-reforms-to-give-africa-stronger-global-voice\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T12:00:00","slug":"in-addis-ababa-guterres-urges-reforms-to-give-africa-stronger-global-voice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/?p=85324","title":{"rendered":"In Addis Ababa, Guterres urges reforms to give Africa stronger global voice"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Meeting with AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, the two sides focused on deepening cooperation across peace and security, sustainable development and human rights.<\/p>\n
It also marked what Mr. Guterres said would most likely be his final AU-UN summit as Secretary-General.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is my final AU-UN Conference as Secretary-General,\u201d he told reporters in the Ethiopian capital afterwards. \u201cBut the ties between our organizations are stronger than ever \u2013 and will remain so.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Secretary-General and the AU Commission Chairperson signed a declaration reaffirming the principles of the UN-AU joint frameworks, further institutionalizing cooperation between the two organizations.<\/p>\n
Pillar of global progress<\/h2>\n
Mr. Guterres described the African Union as \u201cthe flagship for multilateralism in Africa\u201d and \u201ca collective voice of justice for the developing world,\u201d highlighting the continent\u2019s importance and potential.<\/p>\n
He said the Pact for the Future, adopted in 2024, underscored the importance of regional organizations, particularly the AU, and called for reform of the Security Council to make it more representative of today\u2019s world.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfrica\u2019s continued exclusion from permanent representation is indeed a historical injustice \u2013 and we cannot accept it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not about privilege or symbolism. This is about ensuring that the Council is fit for purpose and able to act with legitimacy and effectiveness.\u201d<\/p>\n
Financial reform<\/h2>\n
The Secretary-General also highlighted what he described as deep inequalities in the international financial architecture, saying African countries continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to affordable capital.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday\u2019s global financial architecture is not providing adequate levels of support, nor sufficient voice and participation for Africa,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He noted that many African countries often pay up to three times the benchmark rate for borrowing, draining public resources that could otherwise be invested in water, sanitation, health and education.<\/p>\n
Mr. Guterres praised African-led reform efforts, including the African Development Bank\u2019s initiative to create a New African Financial Architecture for Development, bringing together African financial institutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfrica assumes the leadership in solving African problems,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n \u00a9 African Union<\/span> \n AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf (right), greets Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres, in Addis Ababa.<\/span> \n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Climate and energy<\/h2>\n
Mr. Guterres also warned that climate change continues to hit Africa hardest, even though the continent contributes least to the crisis.<\/p>\n
A temporary overshoot of the 1.5\u00b0C temperature limit is now \u201cinevitable \u2013 but not irreversible,\u201d he said, calling for stronger adaptation finance and greater investment in Africa\u2019s renewable energy potential.<\/p>\n
By 2040, he said, Africa could generate 10 times more electricity than it needs entirely from renewables, while delivering power to the 600 million Africans who still lack electricity.<\/p>\n
But he warned that Africa receives only two per cent of global clean energy investment, urging action to remove barriers such as weak grids, high capital costs and fragile supply chains.<\/p>\n
Middle East fallout<\/h2>\n
In a separate meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and the AU Commission Chair, Mr. Guterres also warned that Africa is especially vulnerable to the global economic effects of the Middle East crisis, particularly disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
He said even an immediate reopening would still bring serious consequences, including slower growth and higher inflation, while prolonged disruption could raise the risk of a global recession.<\/p>\n
The effects, he warned, would be particularly severe for African economies already facing high debt, energy costs and difficulties accessing fertilizers.<\/p>\n
Silencing the guns<\/h2>\n
Peace and security also featured prominently in the AU-UN talks.<\/p>\n
Mr. Guterres said the UN strongly supports the African Union\u2019s \u2018Silencing the Guns\u2019 initiative and the African Humanitarian Agency, while pointing to cooperation on conflicts in Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya and the Sahel.<\/p>\n
He called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Sudan and renewed dialogue in the Sahel to confront violent extremism and terrorism.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have always believed that Africa should be seen for what it is: a continent of immense richness and promise,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n