ADDIS ABABA – António Guterres has declared Africa a top priority for the United Nations, calling for sweeping reforms in global governance, urgent action on peace and climate, and a stronger financial voice for the continent.
Addressing the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 14, 2026, the UN Secretary General paid tribute to African leaders and institutions for their consistent backing at the multilateral stage.
He thanked João Lourenço, President of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union, and Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the AU Commission, alongside Heads of State and Government gathered for the summit.
“In a world filled with division and mistrust, the African Union is a flagship for multilateralism,” Guterres said.
Reflecting on his tenure, he told delegates that support from the African Group at the UN had been unwavering. “I will carry with me always the unwavering, decisive support of the African Group in the UN on issue after issue – initiative after initiative – in the shared struggle for justice and equality,” he said.
He noted that cooperation between the UN and AU had grown over the past decade, citing joint frameworks on peace and security, sustainable development and human rights, collaboration during COVID 19, and the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2719 to create predictable funding for AU led peace support operations.
The UN, he said, had supported AU priorities such as Silencing the Guns, the African Humanitarian Agency and inclusive political transitions, while also backing Africa’s calls for justice over slavery and colonialism, reform of the global financial system and restructuring of the UN Security Council.
“The absence of permanent African seats in the Security Council is indefensible,” Guterres said. “This is 2026 — not 1946. Whenever decisions about Africa and the world are on the table, Africa must be at the table.”
Turning to conflict hotspots, the Secretary General outlined three main priorities beginning with peace.
On Sudan, he said parties must commit to an immediate cessation of hostilities and resume talks towards a lasting ceasefire and a comprehensive, inclusive and Sudanese owned political process.
In South Sudan, he pointed to the AU High Level Ad Hoc Committee as a chance to revive dialogue and prevent renewed conflict. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he called for an immediate ceasefire and respect for the country’s territorial integrity. He also urged consolidation of political and security gains in the Central African Republic and progress on a Libyan led political process supported by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya.
Across West Africa and the Sahel, he said coordinated efforts were essential to end cycles of violence, terrorism and displacement, while in Somalia he stressed the need for sustained and predictable funding for the AU Support and Stabilization Mission.
“I regret the Security Council’s lack of consensus for finance through assessed contributions,” he said. “If the Mission of the AU in Somalia did not warrant global support, what would?”
The second priority, he said, was economic action. Developing countries face a four trillion dollar annual financing gap for the Sustainable Development Goals. Africa, he noted, loses more to debt servicing and illicit financial flows than it receives in aid, while borrowing costs remain up to eight times higher than in developed economies.
He called for tripling the lending power of multilateral development banks, leveraging private finance, reducing borrowing costs and reforming the international financial architecture to give developing countries meaningful participation in decision making. He also urged stronger global action against money laundering, tax evasion and illicit financial flows.
Climate action formed the third pillar of his address. Referring to the AU theme on resilient water and sanitation systems, Guterres warned that the planet would overshoot the 1.5 degree Celsius limit.
“Our common task is to make that overshoot as small, short and safe as possible,” he said.
He reminded leaders that the G20 accounts for nearly 80 per cent of global emissions and must deliver major reductions this decade. Africa, with 60 per cent of the world’s best solar potential, could become a clean energy powerhouse, yet receives only two per cent of global clean energy investment.
“After contributing almost nothing to the crisis, Africa faces faster than average warming,” he said.
He called for developed countries to triple adaptation finance, mobilise 1.3 trillion dollars a year for developing countries by 2035 as agreed in Baku, scale up the Loss and Damage Fund, accelerate a just and equitable transition from fossil fuels to renewables, expand early warning systems and ensure African nations benefit fully from their critical minerals through fair and sustainable value chains.
“No more exploitation. No more plundering. The people of Africa must benefit from the resources of Africa,” he said.
Addressing speculation about his tenure ending, Guterres dismissed suggestions that his appearance marked a farewell.
“I can guarantee that until the last moment of my mandate, Africa will be the priority number one of the UN in all its activities,” he said. “And that the partnership between the African Union and the UN wil be our deepest strategic partnership.”
“After the 31st of December, I can guarantee that wherever I will be, whatever I will be doing, in the centre of my concerns and of my active solidarity, there will be Africa always.”
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