António Guterres said that Africa was “a source of hope” for the world, highlighting the examples of the African Continental Free Trade Area and the Decade of Financial and Economic Inclusion for African Women.

Guterres also argued that, for the last 20 years, the African Union (AU) “has helped to bring this hope to life, in order to enable the continent to realize its enormous potential.”

According to Mr. Guterres, the collaboration between the UN and AU “is stronger than ever”, with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 (Africa’s blueprint for a peaceful, integrated and more prosperous continent) as the central pillars.

The Secretary-General argued that “injustice is deeply embedded in global systems”, but it is Africans who “are paying the heaviest price.”

He remembered that the vaccination rate in high-income countries is seven times higher than in Africa and stated that “a morally bankrupt global financial system has abandoned the countries of the South.”

“The unethical inequalities that suffocate Africa, fuel armed conflict, political, economic, ethnic and social tensions, human rights abuses, violence against women, terrorism, military coups and a sentiment of impunity”, he continued.

Because of that, Mr. Guterres said, tens of millions of people are displaced across the continent and the democratic institutions are in peril. (ILKHA)

Peace is not easy to achieve, but it is absolutely necessary.

At #AUSummit I reiterated my commitment to continue working together with the @african_union with a common goal in mind:

Dignity, equality, peace and justice for all the people of Africa. pic.twitter.com/QI27W288ln

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) February 5, 2022