By Busayo Onijala
Lagos, May 11, 2026
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday called for urgent reforms of global institutions to give Africa a greater voice, representation and access to resources.
According to him, the continent has enormous potential but is constrained by unfair international system.
Guterres made the call during a news conference on the sidelines of the Africa-France Summit holding in Nairobi.
He described Nairobi as one of the United Nations’ “green centres of gravity”, commending Kenya for its role in diplomacy, humanitarian action, development and environmental leadership.
According to him, United Nations must be closer to the people it serves, connected to their realities, and equipped to support the solutions they are building.
He said that Africa deserved the voice, representation and resources commensurate with its population and growing global importance.
He said that many African countries had continued to face excessive borrowing costs, while climate-vulnerable ones had yet to receive promised international support.
Guterres advocated deeper reforms of the international financial architecture, greater investment on fairer terms, and reforms of global institutions to reflect the realities in the world.
He described the absence of permanent African representation in the UN Security Council as ‘historic injustice’.
“A reform of the UN Security Council has become necessary to strengthen the legitimacy and effectiveness of the UN in maintaining global peace and security amid widening geopolitical divisions,” he said.
The secretary-general said this would also form part of his message at the upcoming annual African Union-United Nations conference in Addis Ababa.
On peace and security, Guterres expressed concern over ongoing conflicts across Africa, particularly in Sudan, the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and the Sahel region.
“Civilians are paying an unconscionable price as they continue to be targeted, intentionally starved, and forcibly displaced,” he said.
He called for immediate cessation of hostilities, sustainable ceasefire and Sudanese-led civilian democratic transition.
Addressing insecurity in the Sahel, the UN chief said terrorism, poverty, climate pressures and weak governance had combined to worsen the situation.
“There are no military solutions to these conflicts.
“Lasting peace requires courage, dialogue, institutions people can trust and regional and international cooperation with African leadership and UN support,” he said.
He criticised external actors fueling African conflicts through arms supplies, saying such actions undermined efforts to achieve peaceful resolutions.
Guterres warned that global crises outside Africa were having severe economic consequences for the continent, particularly the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
According to him, about 13 per cent of Africa’s imports, including oil and fertilisers, pass through the Strait of Hormuz, making African economies vulnerable to disruptions.
He noted that the price of urea had increased by more than 35 per cent within one month during the peak planting season.
The UN chief called for urgent de-escalation, restoration of navigational rights, and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to ease pressure on global supply chains.
“Diplomacy must be given every chance,” he said.
