“The 21st century has everything to be the century of Africa”, says Guterres at the African Union Summit

At the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, UN Secretary General António Guterres pledged that the United Nations stands by of the African people « in this moment of enormous promise and potential » and affirmed that « the 21st century has everything to be the century of Africa ».

“Africa is ready to make progress. Agenda 2063. The Decade of Financial and Economic Inclusion for Women. The abundance of natural resources. And its greatest advantage: its people, representing a wide range of cultures and languages,” the UN chief told the heads of state and government attending the summit. He said he was particularly happy to see the efforts in job creation and the huge potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

“The 21st century could be – and must be – Africa’s century. We must tap into the natural, human and entrepreneurial wealth of the continent to make this a reality,” Mr. Guterres stressed during a press briefing on the sidelines of the Summit.

But, according to him, a series of challenges must first be overcome: a dysfunctional and unfair global financial system that deprives many African countries of the debt relief and concessional financing they need; systems and structures – from health and education to social protection, job creation and gender equality – that lack investment; a cost of living crisis – with rising food and energy prices compounded by the Russian invasion of Ukraine; climate chaos that causes deadly floods and droughts; and complex threats to peace and security – including rampant terrorism – that jeopardize the lives and futures of people across the continent.