Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 19th Feb. UN chief António Guterres on Saturday expressed his support for an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa during his remarks delivered to the African Union Summit, held in Addis Ababa.
Mr. Guterres praised the African Union initiatives aimed at bring this vision for the continent Agenda 2063 a blueprint for the Africa of the future, and the Decade of Women’s Financial and Economic Inclusion – and the decision to focus on the African Continental Free Trade Area at the Summit which, he said, represents a “truly transformative pathway to job creation and new sources of prosperity for Africans, especially for the youth”.
He said not to underestimate the “enormous tests” Africa is facing, crises that are “greater than any in our lifetimes”, and demanded action.
Mr. Guterres called for more financial support for a continent that is, he said, being hit by a dysfunctional and unfair financial system, inequalities in the availability of resources for the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and a cost-of-living crisis exacerbated by the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
He declared that the financial system routinely denies African countries debt relief, and charges extortionate interest rates, starving them of investment in vital areas, such as health, education, and social protection.
Mr. Guterres said the answer is a radical transformation of the international financial system, centred on the needs of developing countries.
On climate crisis, Mr. Guterres acknowledged that a transition to a clean energy future must address issues of energy access and development challenges, on a continent rich in fossil fuel sources, where millions are without electricity.
He said that in order to decarbonize and develop, African countries need wider access to technologies such as battery-storage systems, components, and raw materials.
A “tidal wave of support” from developed countries is needed, he said, to match the leadership shown by several countries on climate issues; he cited Kenya’s green economy strategy, efforts to protect the tropical forests of the Congo, South Africa’s Just Transition Energy Partnership, and the AU’s ambitious Green Stimulus Programme.
Guterres said that support must include delivering on a fund for the losses and damage caused by the crisis, a doubling of adaptation finance, and ensuring that every country has early warning systems in place, affording protection from extreme climate shocks.
On peace and security, he noted that the UN’s role is becoming more complex each year, with more conflicts, terrorism, and insecurity.
He called for a more flexible and efficient system, as outlined in the UN New Agenda for Peace, which is aimed at reinforcing the Organization’s peace missions.
Guterres reiterated the need to link peace to sustainable development, climate action, and human rights, with a greater participation of women and youth.
He expressed his hope that the Twenty-First Century could be Africa’s century, and the determination of the UN to work with the continent in order to free the continent’s enormous potential, and overcome the obstacles that are blocking its path.
He announced that the UN will allocate $250 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund to combat famine and to address underfunded emergencies.
UN said that this is the largest ever CERF allocation due to a 25 per cent increase in need of humanitarian aid, which stands at some 339 million.
OCHA added that 12 of the 18 countries to receive funding are on the African continent.
The resources will support the most vulnerable people in some of the most forgotten crises around the world, Guterres concluded in a press statement issued at the end of the summit.
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