Calling for sweeping reforms of global institutions, UN Secretary-General Ant¨®nio Guterres told African leaders on Saturday that the absence of permanent African seats on the Security Council is ¡°indefensible,¡± declaring: ¡°This is 2026 ¨C not 1946.¡±
In a world marked by division and mistrust, he said, the African Union (AU) stands as a ¡°flagship for multilateralism,¡± as he addressed the 39th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa.
Mr. Guterres praised Africa¡¯s global leadership in ¡°the struggle for justice and equality,¡± noting that the UN-AU partnership is stronger than ever, built on ¡°respect, constant dialogue and unwavering solidarity.¡±
Cooperation has reached ¡°new heights¡± over the past decade, he added, pointing to joint frameworks on peace and security, sustainable development and human rights.
