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Tag: Antonio Guterres

  • Guterres: pillars of global peace, progress buckling

    Guterres: pillars of global peace, progress buckling

    With global peace and progress under siege, the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres challenged world leaders yesterday to choose a future where the rule of law triumphs over raw power and where nations come together rather than scramble for self-interests.

    Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the UN’s founders faced the same questions 80 years ago, but he told today’s world leaders at the opening of their annual gathering at the General Assembly that the choice of peace or war, law or lawlessness, cooperation or conflict, is “more urgent, more intertwined, more unforgiving”.

     “We have entered in an age of reckless disruption and relentless human suffering,” he said in his annual “state of the World” speech. “The pillars of peace and progress are buckling under the weight of impunity, inequality and indifference.”

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    But despite all the internal and external challenges facing the UN, he and General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock pleaded with its members not to give up. “If we stop doing the right things, evil will prevail,” Baerbock said in her opening remarks.

    Guterres said the leaders’ first obligation is to choose peace, and without naming any countries, he urged all parties — including those in the Assembly chamber – to stop supporting Sudan’s warring parties.

    He also didn’t name Israel but used his strongest words against its actions in Gaza, saying the scale of death and destruction are the worst in his nearly nine years as secretary-general, and that “nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”

    While Guterres has repeatedly said only a court can determine whether Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, he referred to the case South Africa brought to the UN’s highest court under the genocide convention by name – and stressed its legally binding provisional measures, first and foremost to protect Palestinian civilians.

    Since the International Court of Justice issued that ruling in January 2024, Guterres said, killings have intensified, and famine has been declared in parts of Gaza. He said the court’s measures “must be implemented – fully and immediately.”

    The UN also is facing financial cuts as the U.S. and some other nations pulled back funding or have yet to pay their dues. Guterres said aid cuts are “wreaking havoc,” calling them “a death sentence for many.”

  • UN chief urges world leaders to focus on solutions amid global crises

    UN chief urges world leaders to focus on solutions amid global crises

    United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged world leaders to “get serious – and deliver” as the 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) begins in New York next week.

    At a news conference at headquarters ahead of the high-level week, Guterres highlighted multiple crises facing the world, including widening geopolitical divides, raging conflicts and climate change.

    “We are gathering in turbulent, even uncharted, waters,” he said, warning that “international cooperation is straining under pressures unseen in our lifetimes.”

    Guterres stressed that the week offers a crucial opportunity for “dialogue and mediation,” with nearly 150 heads of state and government expected to attend.

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    “UN week offers every possibility for dialogue and mediation. Every opportunity for forging solutions,” he said.

    Noting key priorities for the UNGA, he said it included peace in the Gaza Strip, Ukraine and Sudan; a pathway to a just, lasting peace in the Middle East; climate action and responsible technological innovation.

    “We launch the Global Dialogue on AI governance to put humanity at the center of technological change with every country at the table,” he said.

    Guterres also emphasised women’s rights, sustainable development financing and strengthening the UN.

    “Our times demand more than posturing and promises. They demand that leaders make progress and follow through,” he said.

  • Secretary-General appoints Fall as the UN resident coordinator in Nigeria

    Secretary-General appoints Fall as the UN resident coordinator in Nigeria

    United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed Mohamed Malick Fall of Senegal as UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, with the host government’s approval.

    Fall has more than 20 years of experience in development, humanitarian, and peacebuilding.

    Before his appointment, he served as the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, where he provided oversight and guidance to 21 UNICEF Countries Offices, including on the formulation and implementation of the Country Programme Documents, the UN Reform process, and the engagement with the Regional and Economic Commission and African Union and the private sector. 

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    Also, Fall has led the response to multiple and complex crises with massive humanitarian needs and high-security challenges, and managed the strategic review of the country documents, research, and knowledge-management-related activities, ensuring that the results are used to inform programmes and policies.

    Before that, he served as UNICEF representative in Nigeria (2016-2019), the Central African Republic (2014-2016), and Mongolia (2012-2014), as their Senior Education Adviser in Haiti (2010-2012), and as Chief of Education in Indonesia (2006-2010) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (2003-2006).

    He was also temporarily assigned as Education Officer (2001-2003).

    Fall has a master’s degree in Demography from Université de Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne – France and a B.A. Degree in History (Licence d’Histoire) from Université de Dakar, Sénégal.

  • UN chief condemns coup in Gabon

    UN chief condemns coup in Gabon

    UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has firmly condemned the ongoing coup attempt as a means to resolve the post-electoral crisis in Gabon.

    UN Spokesperson Stephanie Dujarric disclosed this at a news conference on Wednesday at UN headquarters in New York.

    Gabonese military officers have canceled elections results and dissolved state institutions, claiming they have taken power, according to local media reports.

    The African country’s borders are closed until further notice, said the reports, adding gunfire was heard in the capital Libreville.

    The officers said that the general election was not credible, and the results were annulled.

    Prior to the incident, Gabon’s national electoral body said that President Ali Bongo Ondimba from the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party was re-elected for a third term in Saturday’s election.

    “The secretary-general is following the evolving situation in Gabon very closely.

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    “He notes with deep concern the announcement of the election results amidst reports of serious infringements of fundamental freedoms,’’ Dujarric said.

    The spokesperson said the secretary-general reaffirmed his strong opposition to military coups.

    “The secretary-general calls on all actors involved to exercise restraint, engage in an inclusive and meaningful dialogue and ensure that the rule of law and human rights are fully respected.

    “He also calls on the national army and security forces to guarantee the physical integrity of the President of the Republic and his family.,’’ he said.

    According to him, the United Nations stands by the people of Gabon.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Cabon is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

    NAN also reports that Niger, Burkina Faso, other West African countries toppled by Military coup in last 4 years.

    Others are Chad (since April 2021) Guinea (since September 2021), Mali (since August 2020) and Sudan.

    Dujarric, while answering a question on solutions to spread of military take off in Africa countries at the press briefing, said the best way to deal with military coup is to prevent it.

    “The best way to deal with it is to invest more in preventing it from happening, by investing in strong institutions and ensuring that elections are safe.

    “Also, that people can express themselves freely and that their human rights are respected. That is the best remedy.

    “Afterwards, there is need to condemn military coup strongly,’’ he said

    in addition, he said the UN has 81 international staff and 163 national staff working in the country and  that latest information suggested that all staff and their families were safe and sound.

    “Our broader concern is really for the people of Gabon, and people of countries that have undergone military coups recently which is a clear violation of their rights.

    (NAN)

  • Buhari, Guterres to co-chair special session on Lake Chad fund

    President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted to co-chair a special session with the United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, to raise $50 billion to fund the inter-basin water transfer from Central Africa to revive the Lake Chad, it was learnt yesterday.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the President affirmed to co-chair the special session while responding to UN Secretary-General’s letter through the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Nigeria’s Dr. Akinwumi Adesina at the State House in Abuja.

    The President said such a special forum was necessary due to the size of the capital required for the project, which was unavailable to the Lake Chad Basin countries.

    On issues directly related to the AfDB, President Buhari expressed delight with successes recorded in the last four years of Dr Adesina’s tenure at the bank.

    The statement reads: “President Buhari specifically cited the bank’s contribution to the growth of Nigeria’s agriculture and infrastructure, and commended what he called ‘its critical gesture in 2016 during the difficult period of economic recession through the issuance of $600 million budget support facility’.

    “The President used the occasion to highlight the successes achieved by the administration through the implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP). He stressed that his focus will continue to be on diversifying the economy and making it more inclusive as well as the creation of jobs in critical sectors, like the Information Communication Technology (ICT) and manufacturing so that ‘young people will earn a decent living’.

    “While noting that a lot is being achieved in providing guaranteed off-takers for farmers and in the provision of infrastructure that include airports, rail, roads and waterways, President Buhari admitted that ‘we still have significant work ahead in the provision of power, small scale cottage industries and promotion of the agro-industrial zones coming up in the country’.”

    Adesina thanked President Buhari for supporting him to become AfDB president.

    “He listed his record of achievements in the last four years among which lending to critical sectors of the Nigerian economy grew to an unprecedented $4.3 billion,” the statement said.

     

  • World still on ‘red alert’ but there’s hope – UN chief

    United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has restated the “red alert” he issued on Jan. 1, 2018 over a range of dangers confronting the world, which “still persist” as 2019 looms.

    The UN chief said in his message for the New Year that “these are anxious times for many, and our world is undergoing a stress test”.

    He reiterated one of his calls during 2018 over climate change, saying it was still “running faster than we are,” and that deepening geo-political divisions are making conflicts more difficult to resolve”.

    He said record numbers of people were moving in search of safety and protection, inequality is growing and “people are questioning a world in which a handful of people hold the same wealth as half of humanity”.

    Moreover, he said that intolerance was on the rise while trust was also declining.

    “But there are also reasons for hope, notably in Yemen where breakthrough talks have created an opportunity at least, for peace,” the Secretary-General said.

    Guterres also cited the September agreement signed in Riyadh between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which eased long-running tensions and brought improved prospects to an entire region as cause for optimism.

    Likewise, he pointed to the agreement between warring parties in South Sudan which had revitalised chances for peace, “bringing more progress in the past four months than in the previous four years”.

    The UN was also able to bring countries together in Katowice, Poland, to agree on a programme to implement the Paris Agreement on climate change.

    “Now we need to increase ambition to beat this existential threat, it’s time to seize our last best chance to stop uncontrolled and spiraling climate change,” Guterres said.

    The UN chief said in recent weeks, the UN also oversaw landmark global agreements on migration and refugees, “that will help to save lives and overcome damaging myths”.

    And people everywhere are mobilising behind the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which he called “our global blueprint for peace, justice and prosperity on a healthy planet.”

    “When international cooperation works, the world wins,” the UN chief stressed.

    He maintained that in 2019, the UN “will continue to bring people together to build bridges and create space for solutions,” keeping up the pressure for change.

    “As we begin this New Year, let’s resolve to confront threats, defend human dignity and build a better future – together,” Guterres said, wishing the world a peaceful, prosperous and healthy 2019. (NAN)

  • World in ‘deep trouble’ over climate change, UN warns

    UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the world is in “deep trouble’’ due to climate change.

    Guterres gave the warning at the 24th Conference of Parties (COP24) Climate Change Conference in Katowice, Poland on Monday.

    He told parties to the UN Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) that the world could not afford to waste any more time before taking action on climate change.

    The UN chief asked decision makers to focus on four key things: stepping up climate action, according to a solid plan, with more funding, as a smart investment in future of the planet.

    The two-week conference marks the deadline for the 197 parties that signed the Convention to adopt guidelines for the implementation of the historic 2015 Paris Agreement.

    The 197 countries collectively agreed to keep global temperature rises to no more than two degrees centigrade above pre-industrial levels, and if possible, to limit the rise to 1.5 degrees centigrade.

    “Now in Poland, they have to agree on how they will achieve this collectively, we cannot fail in Katowice,” the UN chief said.

    He highlighted four key messages for the thousands of representatives of the world’s nations, non-profit organisations, UN agencies, and private sector companies gathered in Katowice.

    According to Guterres, climate change is already a matter of life and death for many people, nations and countries of the world, as the science is telling us we need to move faster.

    “Even as we witness devastating climate impacts causing havoc across the world, we are still not doing enough, nor moving fast enough to prevent irreversible and catastrophic climate disruption.

    “Last year, I visited Barbuda and Dominica, which were devastated by hurricanes. The destruction and suffering I saw was heart-breaking,” he said, noting “these emergencies are preventable.

    “If we fail, the Arctic and Antarctic will continue to melt, corals will bleach and then die, the oceans will rise, more people will die from air pollution, water scarcity will plague a significant proportion of humanity, and the cost of disasters will skyrocket”, he warned.

    He insisted on the need to operationalise the Paris Agreement, and reminded Member States that 2018 is the deadline that they set for themselves to finalise the guidelines for implementation.

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    “We need a unifying implementation vision that sets out clear rules, inspires action and promotes raised ambition, based on the principle of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in light of different national circumstances.

    “We achieved success in Paris because negotiators were working toward a common goal,” and called for urgent collaboration to “ensure that the bonds of trust established in Paris will endure’’.

    “We need concerted resource mobilisation and investment to successfully combat climate change, we must start today building the tomorrow we want.’’

    In 2015, a total of 18 high-income nations committed to providing 100 billion dollars annually by 2020, to lower-income nations to support their climate action.

    Guterres urged developed nations to deliver on this commitment, while urging Member States “to swiftly implement the replenishment of the Green Climate Fund. It is an investment in a safer, less costly future”.

  • Africa is ‘on the rise’, says UN chief

    Africa is “on the move and on the rise” with communities coming together to resolve their problems and offer mutual support, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said.

    Guterres, while addressing the inaugural Africa Dialogue Series at the UN Headquarters, in New York, urged collaboration among African countries for better future.

    The UN chief urged everyone with a stake in Africa’s success to seize the new opportunities and work together with people on the continent for the common good.

    He, however, said alongside the progress and resilience, on the back of stability and improved governance, parts of Africa remained fragile with challenges to overcome.

    The two-day series focused on the nexus between peace, security, human rights, humanitarian and development in the continent, and replaced Africa Week, which was launched in 2010.

    “The volatility of financial markets, the looming trade conflicts, and high levels of debt in some countries are causing concern over economies that may be vulnerable to shocks.

    “The widening impacts of climate change will create additional strains in the years ahead.

    “Inclusive, sustainable development in Africa is a goal unto itself. It is also a leading tool to prevent conflict and crises,” the UN chief added.

    On sustainable development, the Secretary-General noted the synergies between the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the AU’s Agenda 2063.

    On the UN-AU partnership on peace and security, Guterres cited examples from the Central African Republic and South Sudan where UN is working closely with African-led initiatives.

    “I will continue to advocate strongly for predictable, sustained and flexible financing for AU-led peace support operations authorised by the Security Council.

    “These operations are contributing to global security and deserve multilateral support,” he said.

    Briefing on the theme of the dialogue and expected outcomes, Bience Gawanas, the UN Special Adviser on Africa, said that the Dialogue “bears testimony of the desire to engage with the UN to realise a prosperous and peaceful Africa”.

    “Africa is changing and it is seeking to achieve peace, prosperity and socio-economic transformation,” Gawanas said.

    Ms María Espinosa, the President of the 73rd Session of the General Assembly, highlighted the central role of Africa in the multilateral system.

    Espinosa highlighted the importance of stronger and more collaborative efforts between the AU and the UN, saying such efforts will strengthen multilateralism.

    She also noted the revitalisation processes at the two institutions and expressed hope that the end result will allow them to “work together on behalf of all people”.

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    Similarly, Ms Inga King, the President of the Economic and Social Council, underlined the importance of synergies between UN’s 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 of the AU.

    “The Economic and Social Council has an important role to play in sustaining peace and promoting sustainable development in Africa,” she said.

    King noted the body’s collaboration with other entities of the UN system and beyond.

    Also speaking at the Dialogue, Sacha Llorenty, the Permanent Representative of Bolivia and the President of the Security Council for the month of October, spoke of the link between peace, security and development.

    He also said that partnerships were critical to overcome challenges in the continent, as illustrated by the G5 Sahel Joint Task Force and the UN-AU Mission in Darfur.

  • 700m people unable to meet basic daily needs – UN

    No fewer than 700 million people are still being left behind and are unable to meet their basic daily needs, the United Nations has said.

    UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated this in his message commemorating the 2018 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

    Guterres highlighted that eliminating poverty in all its forms remained one of the greatest global challenges and priorities.

    “Let us remember that ending poverty is not a matter of charity but a question of justice,” he said.

    “On this International day for the Eradication of Poverty,” the UN Chief added, “let us commit to uphold the core pledge of the 2030 Agenda to leave no one behind”.

    The UN chief stressed the fundamental connection between eradicating poverty and upholding equal rights for all.

    He said that since the day was first marked 25 years ago, “nearly one billion people have escaped poverty, thanks to political leadership, inclusive economic development and international cooperation”.

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    The 2018 theme is: ‘Coming together with those furthest behind to build an inclusive world of universal respect for human rights and dignity.

    Guterres said the theme underscored the connection between extreme poverty and human rights, specifically, emphasising that people living in poverty are disproportionately affected by many human rights violations.

    Eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions is embodied in Goal 1 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which aims to foster social protection systems for all.

    The UN will host the 25th Commemoration of the International Day at the headquarters in New York on Wednesday.

  • UN report urges action on root causes Lake Chad crisis

    Secretary General, António Guterres, has released a report calling for action on the root causes of the humanitarian crisis in the Lake Chad Basin region.

    The report released in New York on Saturday evening called on key countries to work up a regional plan to identify and address the root causes of the crisis.

    “This is in the hope that the UN system can make headway into solving what some say is the world’s most extensive humanitarian crises.

    “So far,more than 17 million people have been affected by the violent Lake Chad crisis.

    “The crisis is touching communities in Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Nigeria with over 10 million currently needing humanitarian assistance, according to the report.

    “This comes as competition for natural resources is heating up, in an already fragile and violent environment,” it stated.

    These factors according to the report, have created a space which allowed terrorist group Boko Haram to thrive.

    The report claims the conflict has displaced more than 2.4 million people.

    The report was commissioned by the UNSC earlier in 2018 as part of a resolution which outlined their concern about the interplay of factors leading to the crisis there.

    It called for better collaboration amongst UN agencies armed to deal with the situation.

    It was passed after 15 UN Security Council diplomats headed to the Lake Chad basin to see the dire situation themselves.

    However, while the call for a plan is welcome, the report focuses predominantly on the humanitarian crisis, the rise of Boko Haram and the response by international funders to that crisis.

    It is much lighter on the need to understand the climate and environmental dimensions of the crisis, and how they impact livelihoods and economic opportunities in the region, increasing the marginalisation of vulnerable groups.

    This is in spite of the report acknowledging tha there has been a significant drop in yields from fisheries and crops in irrigated areas around the lake.