Cairo: Europe and the Arabs
The Secretary-General of the United Nations warned that peace and sustainable development in Africa face enormous challenges, ranging from poverty, hunger, inequalities, climate change, conflict, terrorism and crushing debt burdens. He called for accelerating efforts to save the sustainable development goals, providing the necessary funding to African countries, and enhancing international cooperation to protect human rights and combat terrorism.
This came in a video message addressed to the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development, held in Cairo on Tuesday and Wednesday (July 2 and 3, 2024).
Despite these challenges, “the way forward is clear,” says the Secretary-General, stressing that providing affordable, long-term financing constitutes fuel for development. “However, many African countries do not find this fuel to propel their progress.” According to what was stated in the United Nations news bulletin, a copy of which we received this morning
He stressed that these countries need a huge amount of debt relief assistance, reducing borrowing costs, and expanding the ability to access financing on concessional terms.
The Secretary-General said that this is why he called for a plan to stimulate the Sustainable Development Goals, and for deep reforms in the global financial architecture, so that developing countries can invest in jobs, gender equality and education.

Guterres stressed that we also need to make a quantum leap in infrastructure development in order to support Africa's people and economic systems - including huge investments in universal electricity supply, access to broadband, and bridging the digital divide.
“We must support Africa’s potential as the world’s breadbasket and its ambition to become a renewable energy superpower – ensuring that vital minerals benefit Africans first and foremost.”
Peace above all
The Secretary-General stressed that we need peace above all else, stressing the need to strengthen our cooperation to protect human rights, combat terrorism and violent extremism, and silence the guns across Africa - from Sudan and the Horn of Africa, to the Sahel, the Great Lakes region and beyond.
The recent resolution adopted by the Security Council will help us do this, he said, noting that this resolution calls for support for peace operations led by regional partners, in particular the African Union, whose mandates are derived from the Council and funded from assessed contributions.
"Africa in a changing world"
The Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development will be held this year under the title: “Africa in a Changing World: Reimagining Global Governance for Peace and Development.”
The Secretary-General said that this year's theme reminds us of the need to reconceptualize global governance, and to amplify Africa's voice and leadership on the global stage - including the Security Council and throughout the global financial system.

He said that he looked forward to strong African leadership capable of expressing its positions loudly at the Summit on the Future to be held in September in New York.

António Guterres concluded his message to the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development by saying: “Africa’s dynamic and diverse economy, its young and growing population, and its rich natural resources hold tremendous promise for the future of the continent. You can count on me to stand with all Africans in realizing this great promise.” And paving the way towards a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable future for all.”