BY Paul Fauvet, in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa (MOZTIMES) - The United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, on Saturday praised the African Union as "a flagship for multilateralism".
Speaking at the heads of state summit of the African Union, Guterres declared "I will carry with me always the unwavering, decisive support of the African Group in the UN on issue after issue – initiative after initiative – in the shared struggle for justice and equality".
"Your solidarity has not only strengthened our efforts, it has moved me deeply and I will never forget it", he said. "From day one of my mandate, we forged a UN partnership with the African Union rooted in respect, constant dialogue, and unwavering solidarity".
Guterres argued that "strengthening multilateralism for the 21st century" must include reforming the composition of the UN Securitu Council.
"The absence of permanent African seats in the Security Council is indefensible", he stressed. "This is 2026 — not 1946. Whenever decisions about Africa and the world are on the table, Africa must be at the table."
Turning to he wars raging in Africa, Guterres said that in Sudan "the parties must commit to an immediate cessation of hostilities and resume talks towards a lasting ceasefire and a comprehensive, inclusive and Sudanese-owned political process".
In neighbouring South Sudan," the AU’s High Level Ad Hoc Committee provides an important chance to revive political dialogue and prevent renewed conflict", he claimed, while in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, "commitments must be honoured – starting with an immediate ceasefire and the respect of the territorial integrity of the DRC."
In Libya, he said, "all actors must advance a Libyan-led political process, supported by the United Nations Support Mission, while "
Across West Africa and the Sahel, coordinated efforts are essential to end cycles of violence, terrorism and displacement".
Guterrees said the UN is "reviewing peace operations to ensure mandates are realistic, sequenced and well-resourced and supported by clear transition strategies.
In striking contrast to US President Donald Trump's planet-destroying embrace of greenhouse gases, Guterres insisted on the need for climate action.
"The science is unequivocal — the planet will overshoot the 1.5 degree Celsius limit", he warned. "Our common task is to make that overshoot as small, short and safe as possible.
He insisted that the G20 countries, which acount for close to 80 per cent of global emissions, "must deliver major reductions this decade".
Guterres said that "Africa – with 60 percent of the world’s best solar potential – can become a clean energy powerhouse. Yet Africa receives only two per cent of global clean energy investment. "
"After contributing almost nothing to the crisis, Africa faces faster-than-average warming", he added. "Adaptation must be a priority. That requires developed countries tripling adaptation finance".
Guterres said "some have described my presence here as a farewell. It’s not true. I can guarantee that until the last moment of my mandate, Africa will be the priority number one of the UN in all its activities". (PF)
