On Africa Day, we celebrate the continent’s abundant strengths, resilience, potential, and growing influence on the world stage. For generations, the people of Africa have confronted and overcome the destructive consequences of slavery and colonialism and forged unity and purpose out of adversity. Today, that shared determination is fueling common objectives: unlocking the promise of continental free trade and renewable energy, driving innovation, spurring sustainable development and laying the foundations for lasting peace, stability and prosperity. This year’s theme focuses on another shared priority: water and sanitation. These services are the bedrock of public health, human dignity and economic opportunity. Yet millions across the continent — particularly women and youth — still lack access to these essential services due to limited investment, weak or absent infrastructure, and the intensifying impacts of climate change.Building and maintaining safe, resilient and accessible water and sanitation requires stronger domestic resource mobilization and sustained investment in the sector’s governance. It also requires far more global solidarity to help African countries access funds and debt relief mechanisms and harness public-private partnerships. And it demands massive investment in Africa’s electrification and transition to renewable energy – to power universal water and sanitation, reduce Africa’s exposure to the frequent volatility of global oil supplies, and help break the world’s addiction to fossil fuels. Today and every day, the United Nations is proud to work with African countries to build the peaceful, prosperous and sustainable future all Africans – and our world – deserve.*** 

Allow me first of all to pay tribute to the Japanese journalists.You are a fundamental pillar of freedom of the press and a fundamental pillar of the Japanese democracy.And indeed, this is my last press conference as Secretary-General in this role.I want to express how much I appreciate the work of Japanese journalists in today's world.Thank you for joining us today.I am here in Japan on a mission of gratitude and determination.First — gratitude to the Government and people of Japan for the warm welcome, once again, to this beautiful country.Two days ago, I had the pleasure of meeting with Her Excellency,
Ms. Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan.As I told her, the United Nations is deeply proud of our partnership with Japan.Since joining the United Nations 70 years ago, this country has been a steadfast and generous champion of multilateralism and the power of collaboration and unity.The UN System has some 30 offices based in Japan — including the UN University headquartered in Tokyo — a meeting place for global experts on a wide range of critical international issues.This week, UN leaders from across our system came to Japan for our annual meeting of the Chief Executives Board for Coordination — the first time this meeting has been held in Asia.Among the people of Japan, we've witnessed an enormous generosity in helping the UN operate in some of the world's most troubled places and support the people of the world with life-saving aid.Feeding the hungry.Providing shelter and protection to families in war zones.Protecting women and girls from violence.Delivering medical assistance — including during the COVID-19 pandemic.Supporting vital peacekeeping missions in some of the most dangerous and unstable places in the world.And promoting the vision of human security Japan has also been a steadfast champion of multilateralism and voice of peace at the United Nations, within the Security Council, and worldwide.From conflict prevention, to defending the rule of law, to nuclear disarmament, an issue of deep importance to the Japanese people.I was proud to be the first Secretary-General to attend peace ceremonies in both Nagasaki and Hiroshima and pay tribute to the atomic bomb survivors — hibakusha — whose bravery and message of peace continue to inspire me.I was also proud to participate in so many of the sessions of the TICAD process — Japan’s extraordinary partnership with Africa over three decades.TICAD is a prime example of collaboration across regions to spur development, and a reminder that no country walks alone.Japan’s training of African Union peacekeepers through Triangular Partnership Programme is another clear example, with the Programme celebrating its tenth anniversary last year.The United Nations supported Japan’s response and recovery efforts to the earthquake in 2011, which devastated the Tohuku region and the city of Sendai — an experience that Japan transformed into global leadership on disaster risk reduction.I continue to stand by Japan’s call for a resolution of the issue of the abduction of Japanese citizens by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea — an unacceptable violation of human rights. And I want to express my total solidarity with the abductees and their families.Our organization was also proud to take part in last year’s Expo 2025 in Osaka.I had the honour of visiting on the United Nations Special Day.I saw how the Expo brought people together — across nations, cultures and generations — around a simple truth: humanity is strongest when we stand as one.This brings me to the second part of my mission.Determination.I am determined to ensure a strong UN-Japan partnership for the future.The true hallmark of partnership is revealed in times of crisis.And our world today is rocked by conflicts, climate chaos and inequality.Inflation is rising and the cost-of-living crisis is deepening — made worse by the conflict in the Middle East, which is sending prices for energy and raw materials - including fertilizers -skyrocketing.It is essential to immediately reestablish the freedom of navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz, and to end all ceasefire violations and create conditions for a political solution to the conflict.Mistrust and geopolitical divisions are blocking effective solutions.Countries are flouting international law with impunity.Military spending is outpacing spending on aid, while funding cuts have devastating consequences for the world’s most vulnerable people.The Sustainable Development Goals — our blueprint for a better future for people and planet — require much stronger progress.Multilateral development banks are not sufficiently supporting developing countries, who are drowning in debt service and facing a lack of financing.We must recapitalize those multilateral development banks for them to have the necessary resources to support developing countries.And world-changing technology like Artificial Intelligence is progressing faster than the ability to manage it safely.The global problem-solving architecture — in particular, the UN Security Council and global financial institutions — are not as effective as they need to be at this challenging moment.In 2024, Member States adopted the Pact for the Future — a bold vision of reform and renewal of the multilateral system.And last year, we launched the UN80 Initiative — to ensure that the United Nations is equipped to deliver for people and for planet in these fast-moving times.With the strong support of Japan, I am convinced we can weather today’s storms and restore global trust in what we can achieve by standing as one.And by implementing the Sevilla Commitment on Financing for Development agreed last year, to supercharge financing for development while providing new tools for effective debt relief.But the most important reform that needs to be established is the reform of the UN Security Council whose composition does not guarantee the legitimacy and effectiveness that obviously are dramatically affected by the fact that the permanent members have three European [countries], one Asian [country] - when Asia today have at least half of the world's population – one North American but no African nor Latin American [countries].This is a serious problem of legitimacy and of ineffectiveness, and it is absolutely essential to increase the number of Permanent Members and to increase the number of non-Permanent Members to make the Security council corresponds to today's world, to the realities of today's world.And also, we need to reform the global financial architecture to give far greater representation of developing countries in addressing today’s challenges.We need a multilateral system that is more fair, more able to continue to defend international law and hold countries accountable to it.Able to take bold action on climate change, supercharging the transition to renewable energy — with speed and with justice for developing countries through support for adaptation.Able to bring governments and technology companies together to ensure Artificial Intelligence helps, not hinders, humanity.And to work to scale-up the funding required to save lives, and build peaceful and resilient communities around the world.Across all of these issues, Japan can be a strong and influential voice of unity and purpose, as we navigate these headwinds.Ladies and gentlemen of the media,The United Nations remains the essential, one-of-a-kind meeting ground to advance peace, sustainable development and human rights.Eight decades after our founding, we can draw a direct line between the creation of the UN and the prevention of a third world war.But our organization is only as strong as Member States’ commitment to it.For 70 years, the goals of Japan and the goals of the United Nations have been strongly aligned.Across the decades, the UN has benefitted enormously from Japan’s generosity and commitment to the multilateral system.And Japan has successfully leveraged its role at the United Nations to grow its diplomatic influence, and build economic prosperity and peace through a stable and cooperative global system.Once again, I thank the Government and people of Japan for the warm welcome, and for our extraordinary partnership over the last 70 years.***QUESTION & ANSWERQuestion: Thank you for your speech, Mr. Guterres. I'm from Asahi Television. And my question is that there is growing skepticism that international institutions such like United Nations can actually prevent conflict. And, also on your speech, you have noted that the United Nations Security Council and global financial institutions are not as effective as they needed to be at this current moment. And you have pointed out that there needs to be a reform in the United Nations Security Council, but how exactly do you plan to reform UNSC, and furthermore, what do you believe is the greatest failure of the United Nations system during your term, and what lessons should your successor learn from it?Secretary-General: Well, let me be very clear. It's not multilateralism that is in crisis. What is in crisis is the behaviour of superpowers that violate international law, that sometimes create conflicts themselves and that use their veto power in the Security Council to guarantee their impunity. In these circumstances, it's very difficult for the Secretariat of the United Nations to be able to contain the dramatic increase in the number of conflicts around the world. Because when the bad example comes from superpowers, other middle-sized powers all over the world think that they can do whatever they want, without any punishment. And you see what happens in the DRC, you see what happens in Sudan. You see what happens in the Horn of Africa. And it is clear that you have now a number of powers that have a permanent external interference inside the countries in conflict, making it extremely difficult for us to prevent and to mediate conflicts. That is why the reform of the Security Council is so important. And it's necessary to say that when I started as Secretary General, the reform of the Security Council was a taboo, and the Secretary General was not supposed to talk about it. But now, we have been defending constantly the need for that reform, and things are starting to change, with even the permanent members recognizing that reform is necessary. And what I believe I have not been able to do, because it's not in my power, was to reform the Security Council. But I will give the advice to my successor to go on fighting, not to be silent, and to claim the need to reestablish justice in the world by reforming the Security Council - and, by the way, the international financial architecture.Question: Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary-General, this is Go Kamashita from NHK. Let me ask you a very general question. It's been said that the United Nations Secretary-General is the most difficult job in the world, almost impossible job. But your 10 years term, this is maybe the most turbulent; even among the nine SGs in the history, you had one pandemic, three major wars, and twice, the Trump administration. And you still have six months ahead of you. So it's very premature to ask you, but how would you-- could you sum up your 10 years term in the history of the UN? And having said that, what would be your advice to your future successor, whose selection procedures is now ongoing in New York?Secretary-General: Now what is remarkable is that during these 10 years, we did not stop in any front. First, in the COVID, the UN had a leading role globally in order to create the conditions for this terrible disease to be effectively fought. And the UN agencies played an absolutely outstanding role in this regard. Second, if one looks at the worst conflicts, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the dramatic situation in Gaza, and the recent bombardment of Iran by Israel and the United States, the voice of the Secretary-General has never been silenced. And we were able to defend always the primacy of international law, to condemn the violations of international law without double standards, and that has constituted a fundamental instrument of credibility for those that are at the head of an organization like the UN. We were never corrupted by fear or by the need to be nice to the most powerful in the world.Third, in climate action, I believe it is recognized that the UN has had a very leading role, not only in the COPs (Conference of Parties), but in our very strong push to reduce the dependency on fossil fuels. And if the war in the Gulf proves something, is that we have too much reliance on fossil fuels, and we must speed up the transition from fossil fuels to renewables. And the UN has been in the front line of defending this point of view against the interests of many powerful in the world.And artificial intelligence, where there was in the beginning the idea that the UN should not be involved, today we have an international scientific independent panel on artificial intelligence, elected by the General Assembly, 40 experts from all over the world, men and women, north and south, that will be able to inform governments and the people of what artificial intelligence is producing, what is happening in this world, and what kind of initiatives should be taken to guarantee that it remains a force for good. And we will have the first Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence in July in Geneva.So we did not stop in any area, and we are now involved in a deep reform of the United Nations Secretariat and Agencies. That was the item discussed today here. We were able.. to give you an idea, and I know for taxpayers are concerned with that: we have reduced 22% of the posts of the Secretariat in the budget of 2026. And we have done it in a very, very effective cooperation. We have reduced 25% of our troops in peacekeeping operations when we detected that the Americans would not pay more than half of their contribution. And we did it in a planned way, and I would say that probably not many of the journalists around this room detected that we were withdrawing 25% of our troops in operations around the world.So our agencies were dramatically impacted by the cuts in humanitarian aid and in development cooperation. Any agency collapsed? No. The UN agencies showed a remarkable resilience. They reformed themselves, they shrunk, they reduced the number of staff, but they maintained their activity in the support of the people we care for. And so, I think it's important to recognize that we live in troubled times, and what you said is exactly true. But that did not intimidate us, and we will continue to fight, and especially to fight for international law, especially to fight against those that violate the law, and then, as I said, use the Security Council to protect themselves, which is absolutely unacceptable in today's world.And I have no advice to give to my successor, except that I hope that he will guarantee the independence of this function, and it will do everything possible in order to make sure that the United Nations is as effective as possible in peace and security and sustainable development and in human rights.Question: John Getty from Reuters. President Trump invited President Xi of China to Washington on 24 September. It may not be lost to you that that also coincides with UNGA. Do you expect President Xi to speak at UNGA? Do you think that would be significant, given he hasn't spoken in person at UNGA since 2015? Second question, do you think that countries like China and Japan might have to fill the gap in funding that the UN faces if the U.S. doesn't pay up the billions of dollars of debts that it owes?Secretary-General: Well, first of all, President Xi is visiting the United States. He's always invited to the General Assembly of the United Nations. And let's not forget that his visit to the United States comes after the visit of President Trump to China, which was a visit in which I believe there was a certain cordiality. There was a belief that tension between the two countries was appeasing, but let's be clear, no major breakthrough was achieved. And so, the visit of President Xi to Washington gains an enormous importance. From our side, we'll always be happy to receive him. But, of course, it's not for me to decide the agenda of the President of the People's Republic of China.Question: Thank you so much for having me. My name is Okada from the Sankei newspaper, based in Tokyo. You mentioned here a little bit already, with regards to the U.S. unpaid contribution. The United States has paid the United Nations about $160 million this February. On the other hand, the United Nations has said that the U.S. owes over $2 billion to its regular budget. So has the U.S. unpaid contributions have any impact on the operation of the United Nations?Secretary-General: Well, first of all, I forgot to answer the question. I'm not going to ask Japan and China to pay the American quota. I insist for the United States to pay what is due to the UN.It is clear that we have a meaningful number of arrears. If we count peacekeeping and Regular Budget, those arrears are above $3 billion. If you count only the Regular Budget, they are 1 billion something dollars. And obviously, this money was necessary. And the fact that this money did not exist has translated itself, as I said, not in the collapse of the organization, but we had to shrink, we had to reduce our activities.And the price was largely paid by those that received assistance from the UN, which means there is more hunger, which means there is less vaccination, which means there is less support to water and sanitation, which means more people die. That is the reality.The UN will move on. The UN was prepared for this and has been able to reform itself and slim enough to be able to go on. But obviously, the price was paid by those that we were trying to support, and some of them in very desperate situations.Question: Thank you. My name is Kaori [inaudible] from Kyodo News. My question is about the conference of NPT taking place in New York. In this conference, what are your expectations for Treaty members and also for countries with nuclear weapons?Secretary-General: I participated in the ceremonies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and I visited Nagasaki twice, and I visited Hiroshima probably four times. And I was always extremely, extremely impressed by the testimony of the hibakusha. And I believe that they have, and Japan has, an enormous moral authority in matters of disarmament and non-proliferation.Unfortunately, we are witnessing a situation in which nuclear arsenals are being increased or modernized, and a situation in which the non-proliferation is at risk.So, in relation to this conference of non-proliferation, our objective is to guarantee that the review effectively takes place, and that the principle of non-proliferation is recognized by all the members. Because if we start multiplying the possibility of countries to have nuclear weapons, we enter in a world that is an extremely dangerous world.Disarmament is also another fundamental component, because the two are two faces of the same coin. We need non-proliferation, but we need progressive disarmament. And unfortunately, that is not taking place at the present moment.   ***

Secretary-General: The AU is the flagship for multilateralism in Africa.

A collective voice of justice for the developing world. 

And a reminder of the power of unity in creating opportunities while solving big problems together. 

This same problem-solving spirit has defined the partnership between our two organizations. 

From the start of my mandate, I have taken steps to build a unique strategic partnership with the African Union.

This is my final AU-UN Conference as Secretary-General. 

But the ties between our organizations are stronger than ever — and will remain so. 

Today, we reviewed our progress and planned for the future in four key areas. 

First — strengthening our partnership for the future. 

We are continuing to implement our joint co-operation frameworks on peace and security, sustainable development and human rights. 

All of these collaborative efforts are having a meaningful impact across the continent. 

And I am pleased to note that, in many cases, these issues are being carried forward at the United Nations by senior officials from Africa — many of whom are women. 

To build on this work, Chairperson Youssouf and I signed a new declaration reaffirming the principles of the frameworks to further institutionalize this work and formalize the coordination mechanisms that have been so effective.   

This is a clear expression of our full commitment to a strong AU-UN partnership for the future. 

I am also very pleased that the Pact for the Future — adopted in 2024 — underscored the importance of regional organizations, in particular the AU.

You can find Africa’s imprint across the Pact’s many pledges — from peace and security, to sustainable development, technology, artificial intelligence and youth. 

The Pact also called for reforming the Security Council to be more representative of today’s world — and to redress the historical injustice against Africa as a priority.

Africa’s continued exclusion from permanent representation is indeed a historical injustice — and we cannot accept it.

This is not about privilege or symbolism.
 
This is about ensuring that the Council is fit for purpose and able to act with legitimacy and effectiveness. 

I will continue standing with Africa as the intergovernmental negotiations process moves forward. 

Second — financing sustainable development.  

Africa’s economic potential is without question. 

The African Continental Free Trade Area. 

A wealth of natural resources.

A young, innovative and growing population. 

A burgeoning green energy sector. 

The list goes on. 

But Africa has been held back, and progress on Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda is lagging. 

Today’s global financial architecture is not providing adequate levels of support, nor sufficient voice and participation for Africa. 

Many African countries face vast debt repayments that drain public resources and undermine long-term investment in critical systems — including water and sanitation, the AU’s theme for this year. 

For example, African countries often have to pay up to three times the benchmark rates for borrowing. 

We need to fix a system that makes it three times more expensive for developing countries to finance education, health or water systems. 

Africa is consistently leading the charge in championing reforms to the global financial architecture — including the African Development Bank’s recent initiative for the creation of a New African Financial Architecture for Development bringing together all African financial institutions.  

Africa assumes the leadership in solving African problems. 

Africa’s calls are being heard. 

Last year’s Sevilla Commitment was a watershed moment for global financial justice. 

In addition to calling for more domestic resource mobilization, the Commitment included pledges to help countries climb the development ladder. 

By tripling the lending capacity of multilateral development banks.

And by easing debt burdens through new initiatives.   

This includes a borrowers’ platform to give developing countries stronger participation in the debt architecture — made possible by the strong support of several African countries; 

New principles for responsible sovereign borrowing and lending; 

A UN process to work towards a development-oriented debt architecture while putting in place effective mechanisms for debt relief; 

And a global effort to reimagine the credit ratings system which, in its current form, locks too many developing countries out of the borrowing tools they need. 

I strongly support the creation of the African Credit Rating Agency in this regard.  

Throughout, I will continue supporting efforts to reform the international financial architecture. 

The world has changed dramatically since these international financial institutions were created. 
The global financial architecture must reflect this reality with much stronger participation of developing countries across institutions and decision-making processes. 

Third — climate change, which continues to wreak havoc on the most vulnerable across Africa.  

A temporary overshoot of the 1.5 degree limit is now inevitable — but not irreversible. 

Our mission is to keep that overshoot as small, as short, and as safe as possible. 
The conflict in the Middle East, which we discussed today in a special session, has unleashed the most severe energy crisis in a generation — a reminder that fossil fuels threaten our planet and our economies.

But there is another path.  

Renewables are among the cheapest, fastest, and most secure sources of new energy. 
 
Africa can lead the way. 

By 2040, Africa could generate 10 times more electricity than it needs — entirely from renewables — and deliver electricity to the 600 million Africans living without it.  

But Africa receives just two per cent of global clean energy investment. 

We need to remove the bottlenecks that hold Africa back, including a lack of grids and storage, the high cost of capital, and fragile and concentrated supply chains. 
Many African countries also need to establish a solid regulatory framework to attract more private green investment. 

Developed countries need to triple adaptation finance and scale-up contributions to the Loss and Damage Fund.

The temporary overshoot of the 1.5 degree limit will inevitably have dramatic consequences for Africa — more droughts, more floods and more suffering. 

This is precisely why global support for adaptation is so critical.
We must help African countries accelerate the implementation of their adaptation priorities and plans. 

The upcoming COP meetings — including COP32, being hosted in Ethiopia in 2027 — will be critical moments to do this.  

And we must help resource-rich countries in Africa power the renewables revolution at home and globally, in line with the principles and recommendations from the UN Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals.

This is a critical opportunity for African countries to diversify their economies and climb global value chains — not just as suppliers of raw materials, but as a hub of local manufacturing, refining, and processing. 

No more exploitation. No more plundering. 

Et quatrièmement — il est temps de faire taire les armes sur l’ensemble du continent.
And fourth — it’s time to silence the guns across the continent. 

L’Organisation des Nations Unies a fermement soutenu les priorités de l’Union africaine en matière de paix — notamment l’initiative « Faire taire les armes » et l’Agence humanitaire africaine.
The United Nations has strongly supported AU priorities on peace — including the Silencing the Guns initiative and the African Humanitarian Agency. 

L’adoption historique de la résolution 2719 du Conseil de sécurité ouvre une nouvelle voie vers un financement prévisible des opérations de soutien à la paix dirigées par l’Union africaine. C’est complètement incompréhensible que le Conseil de sécurité n’ait pas accepté l’application de cette résolution dans le cadre de la Somalie.
And the landmark adoption of Security Council Resolution 2719 creates a new pathway for predictable funding for AU-led peace support operations. It is completely incomprehensible that the Security Council did not agree to the implementation of this resolution in the context of Somalia.

S’il y a pays qui en aurais nettement besoin, c’est la Somalie. 
If one country need it, it is clearly Somalia. 

Nous sommes également des partenaires étroits dans la réponse aux conflits à travers le continent.
We are also close partners in addressing conflicts across the continent.

Au Soudan, je réitère mon appel à une cessation immédiate des hostilités et à un engagement véritable de toutes les parties à revenir à la table des négociations afin de parvenir à un cessez-le-feu durable et à une transition dirigée par des civils.
In Sudan, I repeat my call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a genuine commitment by all parties to come to the negotiation table to secure a sustainable ceasefire and civilian-led transition. 

Au Soudan du Sud, l’Union africaine et l’Organisation des Nations Unies intensifient leurs efforts pour faire avancer le processus de paix, nourrir le dialogue et encourager la mise en œuvre de l’Accord de paix revitalisé.
In South Sudan, the African Union and the United Nations are strengthening efforts to advance the peace process, build dialogue, and encourage the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement. 

En République démocratique du Congo, les progrès réalisés à la table des négociations doivent se traduire par un cessez-le-feu immédiat et permanent de toutes les parties, que la MONUSCO est prête à appuyer.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the progress made at the negotiation table needs to be translated into an immediate and permanent ceasefire by all parties, which MONUSCO stands ready to support.

L’ONU soutient pleinement les initiatives de médiation conduites par l’Union africaine, sous l’égide du Président Gnassingbé, Président du Conseil des ministres du Togo, en vue de parvenir à un cessez-le-feu permanent et à une solution politique.
The UN fully supports the AU-led mediation initiatives, led by President Gnassingbé of the Council of Ministers of Togo to work towards a permanent ceasefire and a political solution. 

Au Sahel, la détérioration de la situation sécuritaire a engendré une urgence humanitaire marquée par une violence croissante contre les civils, des déplacements massifs et une insécurité alimentaire grandissante.
In the Sahel, the deteriorating security situation has created a humanitarian emergency marked by growing violence against civilians, widespread displacement and growing food insecurity. 

La situation s’est sérieusement aggravée avec l’alliance opérationnelle du JNIM/Al Qaeda et du Front de Libération de l’Azawad.
The situation has seriously deteriorated following the operational alliance between JNIM/Al Qaeda and the Azawad Liberation Front.

J’appelle au dialogue et à la collaboration entre tous les pays de la région afin de renforcer la coopération sécuritaire et politique face à la grave menace du terrorisme et de l'extrémisme violent.
I urge dialogue and collaboration among all the countries of the region to strengthen security and political co-operation to address the serious threat of violent extremism and terrorism.

Et en Libye, l’accord récent sur un cadre unifié de dépenses, conclu après treize ans, montre que des progrès dans le processus de transition demeurent possibles.
And in Libya, the recent agreement on a unified spending framework after 13 years demonstrates that progress in the transition process remains possible. 

Aujourd’hui, nous appelons à de nouvelles avancées pouvant ouvrir la voie à des élections nationales et de permettre au peuple libyen de bâtir l’avenir auquel il aspire.
Today, we call for further steps that can lead to national elections and deliver the future that Libyans are aspiring to build.  

Mesdames et Messieurs les journalistes,
Ladies and gentlemen of the media, 

J’ai toujours pensé que l’Afrique devait être vue pour ce qu’elle est : un continent d’une richesse et d’une promesse immenses.
I have always believed that Africa should be seen for what it is: a continent of immense richness and promise.

Ce fut un privilège de contribuer, au cours de la dernière décennie, à faire vivre cette promesse et à défendre la justice et la paix dont les Africaines et les Africains ont besoin et qu’ils méritent.
It has been a privilege to help realize this promise over the last decade, and uphold the justice and peace that Africans need and deserve. 

Je remercie une nouvelle fois le Président de la Commission, M. Youssouf, pour nos échanges fructueux aujourd’hui, et lui réitère mon plein soutien et ma solidarité.
Once again, I thank Chairperson Youssouf for a fruitful discussion today, and pledge my full support and solidarity. 

Je vous remercie.
Thank you. 

Q&A: 

Question: What can the UN do about foreign interference in African conflicts?

Secretary-General: It’s absolutely intolerable that countries external to Africa interfere in African conflicts, providing weapons, providing political support, and with the only objective to serve their own strategic or economic interests.

We need naturally to go on developing our common diplomacy, to make sure that we create the conditions for this kind of interference to cease, and for the other actors to be able to come to political agreements able of ending these conflicts. But, we also raise our voices denouncing those countries that are indeed contributing in a way that is totally intolerable to a terrible sacrifice of the African people. And now we are having a new kind of war, a war where the military do not fight each other, they launch drones against the civilians that are on the other side.

And this is again something that is intolerable and only possible because someone else is providing the drones that are not manufactured in Africa.

Question: How long will Africa continue to be under-represented at the international level? What is preventing the United Nations from taking more effective action against the conflict in Sudan?  

Secretary-General: Well, those reforms, should already have taken place long ago and it is not in the interest of Africa, it is in the interest of the whole world.

The Security Council that today does not represent the geographical realities of the world: with three European permanent members, one North American and one Asian, and no African and no Latin American. It is obviously a Security Council that has a problem of legitimacy, and that brings with it a problem of effectiveness. So, it is in the interest of the international community, and it is in the interest of the present permanent members to accelerate the reforms of the Security Council to allow for permanent seats for Africa, and other corrections that are also necessary. 

And if you look at international financial institutions, they were created in 1945, and if you look at the votes, the quotas, the percentage of capital, the developing countries, they no longer correspond to the realities of today’s economy. 

In today’s economy, we see South-South trade [bigger than] North-North trade, and we see emerging economies with dynamism that developed economies no longer have, and we see continents like Africa, with all its difficulties, 25 growing countries more quickly than [inaudible], and this demonstrates how necessary it is to correct the participation and weight of African countries, and other developing countries, in international financial institutions.

On Sudan, I have to say that we are extremely active, together with the African Union, talking to all sides.

We have a very important initiative of the Quintet and the African Union leadership that brought the civil society together in Berlin, with a common declaration, with people from both sides of the spectrum, and, at the same time, we are doing everything in order to make sure that those spoilers stop spoiling, and allow the Sudanese to find a solution that we hope will be a solution leading to full peace and to a civilian-led dialogue. 

Thank you.
*** 

Biodiversity is the living web that sustains humanity.Yet, climate chaos, pollution, and the relentless exploitation of land, ocean and freshwater, are pushing the natural world towards breakdown – with devastating consequences for people, livelihoods, and sustainable development.The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework shows the way forward.  But we must pick up the pace – with ambition and accountability.Governments must lead by accelerating implementation, mobilizing finance, and closing capacity gaps that hold back progress.  But as this year’s theme reminds us, success depends on action far beyond national capitals.  Indigenous Peoples and local communities, women and young people, academia, businesses, cities and regions all have a vital role in protecting and restoring nature.The United Nations is supporting Member States through inclusive, science‑based action – updating national biodiversity strategies, expanding protected areas, restoring ecosystems, and integrating nature into sustainable development planning and climate action.On this International Day for Biological Diversity, let us champion those acting locally for global impact – and work together to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, so people and nature flourish together.***