العربية
At the 2025 African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted Africa’s immense potential, urging global reforms to correct historical injustices and unlock the continent’s economic and technological future. Speaking before African leaders, diplomats, and business figures, he emphasized the strength of the UN-AU partnership and Africa’s position as a key driver of global growth.
Africa’s Potential: A Young Population and Economic Transformation
Guterres praised Africa’s booming youth population, its rich renewable resources, and the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to enhance intra-African trade and economic cooperation. He called on the global community to support Africa’s efforts to modernize its economies, invest in clean energy, and embrace digital innovation.
However, he also stressed that structural global inequalities—including unfair financial systems and historical injustices—continue to hold Africa back.
Calls for Reparations and Global Reform
Referring to the summit’s theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations,” Guterres acknowledged that decolonization and independence did not erase the deep scars left by colonialism and the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
He described these as “colossal and compounded injustices”, pointing out that many African nations were still colonies when the United Nations and multilateral systems were established in the 20th century.
Guterres made two major reform commitments:
- Permanent African Representation at the UN Security Council – Calling the current exclusion of Africa from the Security Council’s permanent membership “inexcusable,” he pledged to work with the AU to secure two permanent seats for Africa.
- Financial System Overhaul – He reiterated his calls for reforming global financial institutions, which force African countries into high-interest debt and limit their ability to invest in education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Conflict in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
While celebrating Africa’s potential, Guterres also addressed ongoing conflicts, particularly in Sudan and the DRC.
- Sudan is facing the world’s largest displacement and famine crisis, with millions at risk. He called for an AU-UN-led coalition to end the war.
- DRC is on the brink of regional catastrophe as M23 rebels advance, with reports of their entry into Bukavu, DRC’s second-largest city. He warned that escalating violence could destabilize the entire region and reaffirmed the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO’s continued support.
Africa’s Future: Clean Energy, Digital Innovation, and Gender Equality
Guterres emphasized that Africa must lead the transition to a clean, low-carbon global economy. Currently, the continent receives just 2% of global renewable energy investment, despite its vast potential. Financial reforms and investment could transform Africa into a global clean energy leader.
Additionally, he highlighted the digital divide, noting that nearly two-thirds of Africans lack reliable internet access. By 2035, more young Africans will enter the job market annually than the rest of the world combined, making education and digital skills critical.
To bridge this gap, the UN will launch new initiatives, including:
- A Global Dialogue on AI Governance to help Africa harness AI for economic growth.
- A proposal for an International Scientific Panel on AI to ensure ethical AI development.
- A report on AI’s role in empowering the Global South.
A Call for Action: The Pact for the Future
Guterres tied his vision to the Pact for the Future, a 2024 UN-led agreement that commits wealthier nations to providing a $500 billion annual development stimulus for low- and middle-income countries, including African nations.
His message was clear: Africa’s future is bright, but achieving progress requires global cooperation, financial justice, and investment in Africa’s youth and digital transformation.
Looking Ahead
The 2025 African Union Summit reinforced the need for global collaboration to unlock Africa’s full potential. With strong leadership, reforms, and investment, Africa could become a leader in economic growth, renewable energy, and digital innovation.
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