Addis Ababa, September 23, 2025 (FMC) – Ethiopia’s delegation, led by President Taye Attske-Selassie, participated in the official opening of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) in New York, as the organization marked eight decades since its founding.
The General Assembly Hall was bathed in blue lighting and filled with solemn music to mark the milestone. General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock reflected on the UN’s founding in 1945, noting that it followed two world wars, the Holocaust, and a period when 72 territories remained under colonial rule. She described the UN Charter as “a promise that humanity had learned from its darkest chapters,” while warning that the world now faces “dark hours once again,” citing ongoing crises in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and Haiti.
In his address, UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the multiple global challenges confronting the world today, including armed conflicts, poverty, hunger, climate change, and economic instability. He urged member states to strengthen cooperation, prioritize peace and justice, and work together to address these pressing issues.
Guterres further emphasized the need to reform the UN system to meet the demands of the 21st century, noting that the organization provides a unique platform where all nations, large and small, can tackle problems that no single country can solve alone. “The UN was created to unite nations in pursuit of peace and shared progress,” he said, stressing that these principles are now more critical than ever amid rising instability and a multipolar global order.