THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
--
BILINGUAL STATEMENT TO THE MEDIA FOLLOWING THE ANNUAL AU-UN CONFERENCE
Addis Ababa, 13 May 2026
As Delivered
Ladies and gentlemen of the media,
I thank Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf for the warm welcome.
The AU is the flagship for multilateralism in Africa.
A collective voice of justice for the developing world.
And a reminder of the power of unity in creating opportunities while solving big problems together.
This same problem-solving spirit has defined the partnership between our two organizations.
From the start of my mandate, I have taken steps to build a unique strategic partnership with the African Union.
This is my final AU-UN Conference as Secretary-General.
But the ties between our organizations are stronger than ever - and will remain so.
Today, we reviewed our progress and planned for the future in four key areas.
First - strengthening our partnership for the future.
We are continuing to implement our joint co-operation frameworks on peace and security, sustainable development and human rights.
All of these collaborative efforts are having a meaningful impact across the continent.
And I am pleased to note that, in many cases, these issues are being carried forward at the United Nations by senior officials from Africa - many of whom are women.
To build on this work, Chairperson Youssouf and I signed a new declaration reaffirming the principles of the frameworks to further institutionalize this work and formalize the coordination mechanisms that have been so effective.
This is a clear expression of our full commitment to a strong AU-UN partnership for the future.
I am also very pleased that the Pact for the Future - adopted in 2024 - underscored the importance of regional organizations, in particular the AU.
You can find Africa's imprint across the Pact's many pledges - from peace and security, to sustainable development, technology, artificial intelligence and youth.
The Pact also called for reforming the Security Council to be more representative of today's world - and to redress the historical injustice against Africa as a priority.
Africa's continued exclusion from permanent representation is indeed a historical injustice - and we cannot accept it.
This is not about privilege or symbolism.
This is about ensuring that the Council is fit for purpose and able to act with legitimacy and effectiveness.
I will continue standing with Africa as the intergovernmental negotiations process moves forward.
Second - financing sustainable development.
Africa's economic potential is without question.
The African Continental Free Trade Area.
A wealth of natural resources.
A young, innovative and growing population.
A burgeoning green energy sector.
The list goes on.
But Africa has been held back, and progress on Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda is lagging.
Today's global financial architecture is not providing adequate levels of support, nor sufficient voice and participation for Africa.
Many African countries face vast debt repayments that drain public resources and undermine long-term investment in critical systems - including water and sanitation, the AU's theme for this year.
For example, African countries often have to pay up to three times the benchmark rates for borrowing.
We need to fix a system that makes it three times more expensive for developing countries to finance education, health or water systems.
Africa is consistently leading the charge in championing reforms to the global financial architecture - including the African Development Bank's recent initiative for the creation of a New African Financial Architecture for Development bringing together all African financial institutions.
Africa assumes the leadership in solving African problems.
Africa's calls are being heard.
Last year's Sevilla Commitment was a watershed moment for global financial justice.
In addition to calling for more domestic resource mobilization, the Commitment included pledges to help countries climb the development ladder.
By tripling the lending capacity of multilateral development banks.
And by easing debt burdens through new initiatives.
This includes a borrowers' platform to give developing countries stronger participation in the debt architecture - made possible by the strong support of several African countries;
New principles for responsible sovereign borrowing and lending;
A UN process to work towards a development-oriented debt architecture while putting in place effective mechanisms for debt relief;
And a global effort to reimagine the credit ratings system which, in its current form, locks too many developing countries out of the borrowing tools they need.
I strongly support the creation of the African Credit Rating Agency in this regard.
Throughout, I will continue supporting efforts to reform the international financial architecture.
The world has changed dramatically since these international financial institutions were created.
The global financial architecture must reflect this reality with much stronger participation of developing countries across institutions and decision-making processes.
Third - climate change, which continues to wreak havoc on the most vulnerable across Africa.
A temporary overshoot of the 1.5 degree limit is now inevitable - but not irreversible.
Our mission is to keep that overshoot as small, as short, and as safe as possible.
The conflict in the Middle East, which we discussed today in a special session, has unleashed the most severe energy crisis in a generation - a reminder that fossil fuels threaten our planet and our economies.
But there is another path.
Renewables are among the cheapest, fastest, and most secure sources of new energy.
Africa can lead the way.
By 2040, Africa could generate 10 times more electricity than it needs - entirely from renewables - and deliver electricity to the 600 million Africans living without it.
But Africa receives just two per cent of global clean energy investment.
We need to remove the bottlenecks that hold Africa back, including a lack of grids and storage, the high cost of capital, and fragile and concentrated supply chains.
Many African countries also need to establish a solid regulatory framework to attract more private green investment.
Developed countries need to triple adaptation finance and scale-up contributions to the Loss and Damage Fund.
The temporary overshoot of the 1.5 degree limit will inevitably have dramatic consequences for Africa - more droughts, more floods and more suffering.
This is precisely why global support for adaptation is so critical.
We must help African countries accelerate the implementation of their adaptation priorities and plans.
The upcoming COP meetings - including COP32, being hosted in Ethiopia in 2027 - will be critical moments to do this.
And we must help resource-rich countries in Africa power the renewables revolution at home and globally, in line with the principles and recommendations from the UN Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals.
This is a critical opportunity for African countries to diversify their economies and climb global value chains - not just as suppliers of raw materials, but as a hub of local manufacturing, refining, and processing.
No more exploitation. No more plundering.
Et quatrimement - il est temps de faire taire les armes sur l'ensemble du continent.
And fourth - it's time to silence the guns across the continent.
L'Organisation des Nations Unies a fermement soutenu les priorites de l'Union africaine en matire de paix - notamment l'initiative Faire taire les armes et l'Agence humanitaire africaine.
The United Nations has strongly supported AU priorities on peace - including the Silencing the Guns initiative and the African Humanitarian Agency.
L'adoption historique de la resolution 2719 du Conseil de securite ouvre une nouvelle voie vers un financement previsible des operations de soutien la paix dirigees par l'Union africaine. C'est compltement incomprehensible que le Conseil de securite n'ait pas accepte l'application de cette resolution dans le cadre de la Somalie.
And the landmark adoption of Security Council Resolution 2719 creates a new pathway for predictable funding for AU-led peace support operations. It is completely incomprehensible that the Security Council did not agree to the implementation of this resolution in the context of Somalia.
S'il y a pays qui en aurais nettement besoin, c'est la Somalie.
If one country need it, it is clearly Somalia.
Nous sommes egalement des partenaires etroits dans la reponse aux conflits travers le continent.
We are also close partners in addressing conflicts across the continent.
Au Soudan, je reitre mon appel une cessation immediate des hostilites et un engagement veritable de toutes les parties revenir la table des negociations afin de parvenir un cessez-le-feu durable et une transition dirigee par des civils.
In Sudan, I repeat my call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a genuine commitment by all parties to come to the negotiation table to secure a sustainable ceasefire and civilian-led transition.
Au Soudan du Sud, l'Union africaine et l'Organisation des Nations Unies intensifient leurs efforts pour faire avancer le processus de paix, nourrir le dialogue et encourager la mise en uvre de l'Accord de paix revitalise.
In South Sudan, the African Union and the United Nations are strengthening efforts to advance the peace process, build dialogue, and encourage the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement.
En Republique democratique du Congo, les progrs realises la table des negociations doivent se traduire par un cessez-le-feu immediat et permanent de toutes les parties, que la MONUSCO est prte appuyer.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the progress made at the negotiation table needs to be translated into an immediate and permanent ceasefire by all parties, which MONUSCO stands ready to support.
L'ONU soutient pleinement les initiatives de mediation conduites par l'Union africaine, sous l'egide du President Gnassingbe, President du Conseil des ministres du Togo, en vue de parvenir un cessez-le-feu permanent et une solution politique.
The UN fully supports the AU-led mediation initiatives, led by President Gnassingbe of the Council of Ministers of Togo to work towards a permanent ceasefire and a political solution.
Au Sahel, la deterioration de la situation securitaire a engendre une urgence humanitaire marquee par une violence croissante contre les civils, des deplacements massifs et une insecurite alimentaire grandissante.
In the Sahel, the deteriorating security situation has created a humanitarian emergency marked by growing violence against civilians, widespread displacement and growing food insecurity.
La situation s'est serieusement aggravee avec l'alliance operationnelle du JNIM/Al Qaeda et du Front de Liberation de l'Azawad.
The situation has seriously deteriorated following the operational alliance between JNIM/Al Qaeda and the Azawad Liberation Front.
J'appelle au dialogue et la collaboration entre tous les pays de la region afin de renforcer la cooperation securitaire et politique face la grave menace du terrorisme et de l'extremisme violent.
I urge dialogue and collaboration among all the countries of the region to strengthen security and political co-operation to address the serious threat of violent extremism and terrorism.
Et en Libye, l'accord recent sur un cadre unifie de depenses, conclu aprs treize ans, montre que des progrs dans le processus de transition demeurent possibles.
And in Libya, the recent agreement on a unified spending framework after 13 years demonstrates that progress in the transition process remains possible.
Aujourd'hui, nous appelons de nouvelles avancees pouvant ouvrir la voie des elections nationales et de permettre au peuple libyen de btir l'avenir auquel il aspire.
Today, we call for further steps that can lead to national elections and deliver the future that Libyans are aspiring to build.
Mesdames et Messieurs les journalistes,
Ladies and gentlemen of the media,
J'ai toujours pense que l'Afrique devait tre vue pour ce qu'elle est : un continent d'une richesse et d'une promesse immenses.
I have always believed that Africa should be seen for what it is: a continent of immense richness and promise.
Ce fut un privilge de contribuer, au cours de la dernire decennie, faire vivre cette promesse et defendre la justice et la paix dont les Africaines et les Africains ont besoin et qu'ils meritent.
It has been a privilege to help realize this promise over the last decade, and uphold the justice and peace that Africans need and deserve.
Je remercie une nouvelle fois le President de la Commission, M. Youssouf, pour nos echanges fructueux aujourd'hui, et lui reitre mon plein soutien et ma solidarite.
Once again, I thank Chairperson Youssouf for a fruitful discussion today, and pledge my full support and solidarity.
Je vous remercie.
Thank you.
Source: UNECA
