Africa faced with challenges deeply rooted in history – UN Chief

The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres has said that Africa is a continent of hope, but faced with the challenges that are deeply rooted in history, exacerbated by climate change, conflict and persistent poverty. 

Guterres who disclosed this at the inauguration of the renovated Africa Hall, in Addis Ababa on Monday, added that African women often bear the brunt of these hardships.

He said addressing these issues requires resolute action and renewed solidarity. “Our global institutions were built at a time when most of Africa was under colonial rule. 
“But unlike this Hall with its twenty-first century innovations, many of these global institutions are stuck in those times, unable to respond to the aspirations and rights of the African people.

Guterres emphasized on Africa still not have permanent seat at the Security Council, but hoping that this will be corrected soon, he spoke of international financial institutions which cannot provide African countries with the response they needed.

“Whether it is protection from strangling debt or from climate catastrophe they did not cause. We can only move forward if we also renew and update global institutions, by making them more effective, fair and inclusive”, he added.
Harping on last month adoption of the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations, the UN Chief said the Pact recognizes the need to reform the Security Council to make it representative, transparent, efficient, democratic and accountable.

He added that the Pact also calls for ground -breaking reforms of international financial architecture, including to massively scale-up affordable development and climate finance.

“The Global Digital Compact includes the first truly universal agreement on governance of artificial intelligence (AI) giving every country a seat at the table, while supporting partnerships to bridge the digital divide and build AI capacity in developing countries and namely in Africa”.

Guterres called on international community and Africa to move forward together in implementing these historic agreements without delay while appealing to include young people at every step of the way.

He said Africa is a transformed continent and this building symbolizes renewed hope and unity for the continent, adding that the Hall is a bridge between Africa’s past and future, honouring shared struggles and achievements, while embracing common aspirations. 

“A state-of-the-art twenty-first century facility that preserves the grandeur and history of this great continent. I also see it as an invitation for everyone to cooperate in pursuit of a better future, for Africa and for the world.

“For more than 60 years, the Africa Hall has been a symbol of the continent’s collective aspirations, a testament to its resilience, and a beacon of hope for entire generations. As we step into this renewed space, let us also renew our pledge to work for the people of Africa and the world we need”.