Guterres told African leaders that the absence of permanent African representation on the UN Security Council can no longer be justified.
Addressing the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa on Saturday, he said the current system reflects a post‑Second World War order that is out of step with today’s geopolitical realities.
“This is 2026, not 1946,” Guterres said, describing the AU as a flagship for multilateralism in an era marked by division and distrust. He praised Africa’s leadership in advancing justice, equality and global solidarity, noting that cooperation between the UN and AU has reached new levels across peace, security, human rights and development.
Guterres outlined three priority areas for deeper collaboration: peace, economic justice and climate action. On peace and security, he repeated calls for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan, renewed political dialogue in South Sudan and respect for the territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He urged sustained support for African‑led solutions to conflicts in the Sahel, Libya and the Horn of Africa.
Turning to economic challenges, Guterres warned that developing countries face a four trillion dollar annual financing gap to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. He said Africa loses more to debt servicing and illicit financial flows than it receives in development assistance, describing the international financial system as “totally unjust.” He called for tripling the lending capacity of development banks and giving developing nations a real voice in global institutions.
Guterres also insisted that Africa must benefit from its own natural resources, saying there should be no more exploitation or plundering. He urged African countries to secure fair, sustainable value chains for critical minerals and ensure they benefit fully from processing and manufacturing opportunities.
On climate change, he warned that the world is set to overshoot the 1.5 degree Celsius limit, despite Africa contributing the least to global warming. He called on wealthy countries to triple adaptation finance, mobilise $1.3 trillion annually for developing countries by 2035 and strengthen the Loss and Damage Fund.
Guterres concluded that Africa must be fully represented whenever decisions affecting the continent and the world are made.
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
