Addis Ababa, September 22, 2025 (FMC) – The 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly has opened in New York, with the annual General Debate set to take center stage as world leaders prepare to address escalating global crises and push for reforms in the multilateral system.
The General Debate will run from September 23 to 29 under the theme “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.” Nearly 150 heads of state and government are expected to take the podium, using their speeches to highlight national priorities while signaling collective demands on issues ranging from security and climate change to economic justice.
The session comes at a time when the multilateral order faces acute strain, with conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, alongside worsening humanitarian emergencies, testing the effectiveness of global cooperation. Reform of the UN Security Council, restructuring of international financial institutions, and climate financing are expected to dominate calls for action during the debate.
The UN itself is seeking to use this milestone 80th session to renew its role. Secretary-General António Guterres has launched the “UN80 Initiative” aimed at making the organization more efficient and accountable, while Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, presiding over this year’s session, has pledged to restore confidence in the UN as a platform for shared solutions.
Health will also be a focal point, with a high-level meeting on noncommunicable diseases and mental health scheduled for September 25.
Leaders are expected to connect this agenda to broader development challenges as the world marks the tenth anniversary of the Sustainable Development Goals, with many targets still lagging behind.
Beyond the formal debates, the session is accompanied by high-level meetings and trilateral engagements between the African Union, the United Nations, and the European Union. These forums are concentrating on conflict resolution in Africa, financing for AU-led peace operations, debt relief, and advancing women’s leadership in peacebuilding.
For Africa, and for Ethiopia in particular, the General Debate offers a stage to amplify pressing concerns such as debt sustainability, climate adaptation, fairer access to finance, and recognition of the continent’s growing role in shaping global governance.
The outcome of the General Debate is expected to set the tone for multilateral cooperation in the coming year, testing whether global rhetoric in New York can translate into concrete reforms and solutions for the world’s most urgent challenges.