United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed African leaders on Thursday, calling for long-overdue changes to address the “injustices” against the continent. Speaking at the China-Africa forum, Guterres emphasized that Africa deserves a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
Guterres, along with over 50 African leaders, gathered at the forum to discuss issues facing the continent. He highlighted the historical wrongs, noting, “It is outrageous that the continent of Africa still has no permanent seat on the Security Council.”
In addition to the call for a greater voice at the UN, Guterres pointed out the economic struggles many African nations face. “Many African countries are mired in debt and struggling to invest in sustainable development,” he said. With limited access to debt relief and funding, countries are finding it difficult to grow and address key challenges.
Drawing on China’s development successes, Guterres suggested that Africa can benefit from similar strategies. He praised China for its work in eradicating poverty and said, “China’s remarkable record of development provides a wealth of experience.”
Guterres urged collaboration between Africa and China in areas like trade, technology, and finance, saying that Africa’s dynamic economies could leverage China’s support to drive progress. His message was clear: Africa’s time for greater representation and development has come.
