THE UNITED NATIONS:UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for enhanced collaboration to combat terrorism and extremism across Africa – from Sudan and the Horn of Africa to the Sahel, the Great Lakes region and beyond.
In a video message to the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development, Guterres said on Tuesday that the international community must support Africa’s potential as the world’s food basket and its ambition to become a renewable energy superpower while ensuring that essential minerals benefit Africans first, Xinhua news agency reported.
“Above all, we need peace,” the UN chief stressed, noting: “We must strengthen our collaboration to protect human rights, combat terrorism and violent extremism, and silence the guns across Africa – from Sudan and the Horn of Africa to the Sahel, the Great Lakes region and beyond.”
The recent UN Security Council resolution, which calls for support for peace operations led by regional partners, including the African Union, with Council mandates and funded by assessed contributions, “will help us achieve this,” he said.
Guterres added that the Aswan forum comes at a difficult time for Africa and the global family, as sustainable peace and development are hampered by enormous challenges that affect Africa and Africans “disproportionately.”
From poverty, hunger, inequality, climate change and the crushing burden of debt, to conflict, terrorism and unconstitutional changes of government, “the path forward is clear,” he said.
“We must accelerate efforts to save the Sustainable Development Goals,” he noted.
Affordable, long-term finance is the fuel of development, but many African countries are cash-strapped, Guterres said, stressing that they need massive debt relief, lower borrowing costs and expanded access to concessional financing.
“This is why I call for a revival of the SDGs and deep reforms of the global financial architecture, so that developing countries can invest in jobs, gender equality and education – the theme of the African Union this year,” he added.
The UN chief said Africa also needed a “leap forward” in infrastructure development to support the continent’s people and economies, including massive investments in universal electrification, broadband access and bridging the digital divide.
The theme of this year’s forum, “Africa in a Changing World: Rethinking Global Governance for Peace and Development”, also reminds us of the need to rethink global governance and amplify Africa’s voice and leadership on the international stage, including at the UN Security Council and throughout the global financial system, Guterres added.
“I look forward to strong and vocal African leadership at the Future Summit in New York in September,” the UN chief said.
The fourth Aswan Forum is being held in Cairo, Egypt, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
