Addis Ababa, February 14, 2026 (FMC) – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged the international community to ensure Africa has a central role in global decision-making while receiving fair and equitable support for its peace, climate, and development priorities during the 39th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa.
Addressing African heads of state and government, Guterres hailed the African Union as a flagship for multilateralism and highlighted the UN’s longstanding partnership with the continent, including collaboration on peace and security, sustainable development, human rights, and pandemic response.
He emphasized Africa’s ongoing calls for justice and equality, including reparatory frameworks for the legacy of slavery and colonialism, and stressed the need for permanent African representation on the UN Security Council. “This is 2026, not 1946. Whatever decisions about Africa and the world are on the table, Africa must be at the table,” he said.
Guterres outlined three key focus areas for Africa:
- Peace and Security: He called for immediate ceasefires and inclusive political processes in Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, Libya, West Africa, the Sahel, and Somalia, stressing the importance of well-resourced UN and EU missions.
- Finance and Development: Highlighting the high borrowing costs and debt challenges faced by African nations, Guterres urged mobilization of private financing, reform of global financial architecture, and expanded support to ensure equitable participation of African countries in international financial institutions.
- Climate and Sustainability: He underlined the urgency of resilient water and sanitation systems, accelerated climate adaptation, and fair access to clean energy and critical minerals. Africa, home to 60% of the world’s solar potential, receives only 2% of global clean energy investment. Developed countries must triple adaptation finance and mobilize $1.3 trillion annually for developing countries by 2035.
Guterres concluded by reaffirming Africa as a priority for the United Nations, pledging continued strategic partnership with the African Union throughout his mandate. “Africa will always be at the center of my concerns and active solidarity. Africa sempre,” he said.