UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, has commended the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for its continued efforts to strengthen regional cooperation, urging renewed action to tackle terrorism and address humanitarian challenges in the region. 

Mr Guterres made the call when he met with Mr Julius Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit, co-hosted in Nairobi by Kenyan President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron.

They exchanged views on the president’s priorities as chair of the ECOWAS authority of heads of state and government and on domestic issues in Sierra Leone.

The secretary general also applauded the commitment of Sierra Leonean authorities to continue working with the International Moral Guarantors to address domestic political issues and consolidate peace.

He reiterated the UN’s commitment to support Sierra Leone in advancing its priorities at the national and regional levels.

Also, on the sidelines of the summit, Mr Guterres met with President John Mahama of Ghana to exchange views on recent developments in the Sahel.

He also commended the president on his efforts to promote regional security and cooperation.

In addition, the secretary general met the President of Egypt, Abdelfattah Al Sisi and discussed the situations in Sudan, Libya and the Middle East.

He expressed his appreciation for Egypt’s constructive diplomatic engagement to resolve regional issues.

Earlier in a speech, the UN chief highlighted how Africa had been driving the debate around reforming global financial institutions that were “designed in 1945 for a world that no longer exists.”

He credited the continent’s leading role in other areas, including securing the Pact for the Future, developing new tools for debt negotiations, and challenging credit rating systems.

African leadership also helped to secure the Sevilla Commitment on expanding lending by multilateral development banks, and alongside small island states, put the climate emergency “at the centre of the global agenda.

“This is not a continent waiting for solutions. This is a continent producing them,” he said.  “But let us be honest about what stands in Africa’s way.”

The secretary-general pointed to “a global system designed without Africa – and still largely operating without Africa, perpetuating century-old injustices.”

Mr Guterres also stressed the need for international partnership with Africa that is “built on equality, complementarity, and mutual benefit.”

He called for co-investment in industry, strengthening universities and research institutions, and building capacity in artificial intelligence (AI), thus shaping the technology through data, languages, researchers, and systems – all African-owned.

The UN chief also focused on Africa’s burgeoning youth population.

“The largest transformation of this century is not a market – it is a generation; as by mid-century, one in four people worldwide will be African.

“The success of this continent is not Africa’s interest alone – it is the world’s.

“Together, let us move Africa Forward – with confidence in its people, solidarity with its journey, and hope for our common future,” the secretary general said. 

 (NAN)