Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye called for greater African representation in global decision-making, saying the continent should be a full participant, rather than an observer, in decisions shaping its future.
“Africa intends to be a full-fledged participant, not just an observer expected to applaud decisions on which it had no input. Africa seeks no privilege; it demands justice, fairness, and representation,” Ndayishimiye said.
He called for UN Security Council reform and permanent African representation, saying the continent needed a greater role in international decision-making.
“Africa wants to be a strategic partner and a full-fledged player in multilateralism, not merely a region for international intervention,” Ndayishimiye stressed, calling for a global partnership based on shared responsibility rather than dependence.
Ndayishimiye also criticised the loss of African talent to wealthier nations.
“Our young intellectuals have become the target of a sustained and deliberate effort by many of the wealthiest nations,” he said, calling for “fair compensation” for African countries’ investments in training their youth.
“For too long, we have talked about youth as a generation expected to take over tomorrow. Yet African youth are not just the future of our continent; they must be its present,” he added.
This year’s General Assembly represents all 193 UN member states under the theme ‘Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All’.
Source: Viory
