Ladies and gentlemen of the media,

Let me begin by welcoming Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and thanking him for today’s very fruitful discussion.

This was our first annual meeting with the African Union Commission since he took up his post, and one that builds on earlier momentum.

Cooperation between our organizations has never been stronger — or more necessary.

Our world is in turmoil, rocked by deadly conflicts, widening inequalities, climate chaos and runaway technologies.

The impacts are felt deeply on the African continent.

I wish to address three areas where decisive action is needed.

First – making Africa a priority.

Since the start of my first mandate, I have taken steps to keep Africa high on the UN agenda.

A closer strategic alliance with the AU was at the centre of this work – building on shared values, mutual respect, common interests, and complementarity.

This led to our joint framework on peace and security, improving collaboration from early conflict indicators to post-conflict peacebuilding;

Our joint framework on sustainable development, accelerating the shared ambitions of the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the UN’s 2030 Agenda;

And our joint frameworks on human rights – which enhance protection and strengthen inclusive democratic institutions and the rule of law.

More recently, the Pact for the Future reaffirmed the importance of collaborating with regional organizations – specifically the AU – and of addressing Africa’s needs and aspirations on peace and security; on sustainable development; on women, youth and future generations; on science, technology and innovation, and more. 

The Pact also called for permanent seats for Africa on the Security Council, correcting once and for all an intolerable injustice faced by the African continent.

Our engagement with the AU likewise informs the UN80 Initiative, which aims to realign our work in ways that improve support to the most vulnerable countries – in Africa and beyond.

But we cannot deliver for Africa without adequate, predictable and sustained resources.

I call again on Member States to pay their regular assessments and peacekeeping contributions in full and on time.

Second – financing for development and innovation.

Africa’s history is as old as humanity. Its resources are vast – and have driven the growth of many economies. Its people are the future.

But its progress is held back by an outdated and unfair global financial system.

The time has come to reform this financial architecture – so it reflects the world of today and better serves the needs of developing countries, particularly in Africa.

It must become more inclusive, representative, equitable and effective.

This means giving developing countries more meaningful participation in global financial institutions.

Tripling the lending capacity of multilateral development banks. 

And easing debt burdens with new instruments to reduce the cost of capital, to lower borrowing costs, to extend maturity, align debt service to the ability to pay, and speed up sovereign debt resolution for countries facing debt distress.

African leadership helped secure the Sevilla Commitment, which takes concrete steps to advance work on these issues.

And later this month I will take this message to the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, urging G20 members to lead on these long-overdue reforms;

And welcoming the Africa-Europe Foundation’s work on resetting and strengthening the relationship between the two continents.

Africa also needs investment to ensure it benefits from the clean energy revolution.

Solar and wind are now the cheapest sources of power – and the fastest growing sources of electricity in history.

No continent has more sunshine or wind than Africa.

But it lacks the funds to invest in renewables at the speed and scale required.

Too many African countries are starved of the resources to adapt – and locked out of the clean energy transition – while investments in Africa for clean energy flow to developed countries.

In a few days I will return to COP30 in Belém and reiterate a message that could not be more clear:

Developed countries have a moral imperative to act.

By closing the climate ambition gap to keep the 1.5 degrees limit within reach;

Doubling adaptation finance to at least 40 billion US dollars this year and massively scaling up adaptation finance in the years to come and adaptation is absolutely crucial for the African continent that practically does not contribute to climate change, but it is in the frontline of the most negative impacts of climate change. 

On the other hand, developed countries must provide at least 300 billion US dollars a year for mitigation and adaptation and helping to mobilize 1.3 trillion US dollars annually by 2025 to meet the needs of developing countries.

And delivering a climate justice package that brings equity, dignity and opportunity to communities that – like many in Africa – are on the frontlines of the climate crisis.

Third – investing in peace.

Sustainable development and peace are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.

In this respect, I wish to reaffirm my full support for the AU’s Silencing the Guns initiative.

Its vision is compelling: an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa.

Its ambition is bold: to end all wars and violent conflicts on the continent.

Its approach is smart: aligning efforts across the humanitarian, development and peace sectors.

And its time is now.

Today, Africa is home to too many conflicts and too much suffering.

In Sudan, I am gravely concerned by recent reports of mass atrocities and gross human rights violations in El Fasher and worsening violence in the Kordofans.

The flow of weapons and fighters from external parties must be cut off.

The flow of humanitarian aid must be able to quickly reach civilians in need.

The hostilities must stop.

I call on the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to engage with my Personal Envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, and take swift, tangible steps toward a negotiated settlement.

I am also deeply alarmed by rising insecurity in the Sahel, as armed groups and terrorist networks exploit fragile governance and intercommunal tensions.

The developments in Mali, including the fuel blockade, make a dire situation even worse, posing new risks to the wider region and the entire continent.

Trust must be urgently restored and cooperation between countries across the region must be re-established.

In South Sudan, delays in implementing the peace agreement cloud prospects for credible and peaceful elections in December 2026.

Its leaders must urgently summon the political will to make difficult compromises and prevent a return to conflict.

In Somalia, chronic underfunding of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission narrows the path from conflict to recovery.

Security Council Resolution 2719 established a framework for predictable financing of AU-led operations authorized by the Council through assessed contributions.

Regrettably, the Council has yet to agree on how to materialize this commitment.

This has real consequences for AUSSOM, which remains indispensable for Somalia’s security transition and counter-terrorism efforts.

International partners must urgently close the 2025 funding gap – and ensure predictable support for the remainder of the Mission.

In Libya, dialogue and compromise are essential to overcome political and institutional divisions.

The AU-UN Annual Conference expressed its full support for the UN Roadmap to enable national elections and end the transitional phase, and for the Libyan National Peace and Reconciliation Charter.

Mesdames et Messieurs,

Dans l’est de la République démocratique du Congo, des décennies de conflit ont engendré une crise humanitaire d’une ampleur tragique – avec 5,7 millions de personnes déplacées et 21 millions de personnes ayant besoin d’aide vitale.

Les services publics s’effondrent. Le choléra se propage. L’espoir s’éloigne.

Les donateurs doivent se mobiliser – en apportant un soutien fort à un Plan de réponse humanitaire cruellement sous-financé.

Les combattants doivent cesser immédiatement les hostilités – afin de permettre la mise en œuvre rapide des accords de paix.

Toutes les parties doivent honorer leurs engagements au titre de l’Accord de paix de Washington et de la Déclaration de principes de Doha, et se conformer pleinement à la résolution 2773 du Conseil de sécurité.

La souveraineté et l’intégrité territoriale de la RDC doivent être pleinement respectées. 

Et les causes profondes de l’instabilité et de la violence dans l’est du pays doivent être traitées à la racine.

Mesdames et Messieurs de la presse. 

Le monde ne doit pas tourner le dos à l’Afrique, qui abrite près d’un cinquième de l’humanité. 

Les enjeux sont trop importants.

Et le potentiel est tout aussi immense. 

Je tiens à remercier à nouveau le Président Youssouf, et je me réjouis de voir notre coopération se renforcer toujours davantage. 

Je vous remercie.

Source: UN Press Statement | UN Web TV