The Special Representative, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, delivered compelling opening remarks at the Amani Africa – UNOAU joint Policy Forum held on 5 December 2024, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Forum enabled dialogue on critical global issues and the role of Africa in shaping the future through the Pact for the Future.

His address reaffirmed UNOAU’s commitment to working with African stakeholders to advance the goals of the Pact for the Future and drive meaningful change across the continent.

The SRSG commended the enduring partnership between UNOAU and Amani Africa, emphasizing the importance of such forums in analyzing key issues and exploring actionable policy solutions. He noted the urgent need to address growing global challenges, including the erosion of multilateralism, widening inequalities, and rising distrust in international institutions.

A Call for Renewed Multilateralism
Highlighting the dire state of global affairs, the SRSG underscored that the world stands at an inflection point. He recalled Secretary-General Guterres’ stark the reminder that “We face a stark choice—breakdown or breakthrough”, and the promises of the Pact for the Future, which aims to revive multilateralism by fostering stronger international cooperation to address shared challenges and seize opportunities for transformative change. The SRSG further stressed that in our deeply polarized times, the Pact for the Future serves both as a “global compact” for renewed collective action and a “global compass” for a fairer, more sustainable, and peaceful world.

The SRSG praised the African Group’s leadership during the intergovernmental negotiations on the Pact for the Future, urging the same spirit in the implementation phase. He stressed that Africa’s engagement is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic necessity, given the continent’s young and dynamic population.

Reaffirming commitments for a sustainable future
The SRSG outlined the Pact’s bold commitments, particularly in peace and security, global governance reform, and sustainable development. He emphasized its transformative agenda, including, addressing the root causes of conflict, such as poverty and injustice; accelerating the implementation of Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) commitments; reforming global governance to make it more inclusive and democratic; leveraging science, technology, and innovation for sustainable development.

Translating commitments into action: Africa’s role
The SRSG identified key priorities for Africa in translating the Pact’s commitments into tangible outcomes. These include overcoming structural barriers by addressing institutional impediments to facilitate meaningful change and enhancing coordination by strengthening collaboration among AU Member States to present a united African voice.

Additionally, he underlined the need to foster engagement through mobilizing global support for Africa’s priorities and partnerships; and underscored the importance of harnessing intellectual resources by leveraging Africa’s think tanks and academia for innovative solutions.

The SRSG emphasized that Africa’s moral and political leadership, coupled with its collective voice in the General Assembly, is essential to ensure the Pact’s success.
He closed his remarks by underscoring the Pact’s significance for Africa’s future, and stated that “Implementing the Pact is not just a responsibility, it is an investment in Africa’s youth and future generations.”

Image source: Amani Africa