Wednesday’s General Debate brought addresses from 14 African and Caribbean delegations, with leaders placing peace, institutional reform, climate resilience, development finance and responsible management of natural resources firmly on the global agenda.
Here are the key messages:
🇧🇮 BURUNDI
President Évariste Ndayishimiye, speaking as Chair of the African Union, called for Africa to be heard, represented and directly involved in decisions shaping the world. He urged permanent African representation on the UN Security Council, stronger African-led peace efforts and fairer participation in global trade.
🇱🇾 LIBYA
President of the Presidential Council Mohamed Younis Menfi announced a National Committee for De-escalation and Confidence-Building. He called for a unified and sovereign Libya and said the Mediterranean should become a bridge for trade, investment, development, energy transition and shared security.
🇩🇴 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
President Luis Abinader warned that wars far from the Caribbean still raise food and energy prices for developing island States. He raised the continuing crisis in Haiti and called for faster climate finance, stronger ocean protection and international measures that recognize countries’ vulnerability beyond GDP.
🇧🇼 BOTSWANA
President Duma Boko focused on the high cost of borrowing for developing nations. He called for reform of the international financial architecture, fairer access to concessional finance and greater investment in climate action, healthcare, education, technology and employment.
🇨🇫 CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
President Faustin-Archange Touadéra warned that fragile States are being trapped between conflict, declining humanitarian assistance and climate shocks. He called for increased adaptation finance, an operational loss-and-damage fund and recognition of the Congo Basin countries’ contribution to protecting the planet.
🇪🇹 ETHIOPIA
President Taye Atskeselassie urged the Global South to lead—not simply observe—the technological and artificial-intelligence revolution. He highlighted the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam as a major Pan-African clean-energy project and confirmed Ethiopia’s preparations to host COP32 in 2027.
🇳🇦 NAMIBIA
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah defended multilateral cooperation while calling for reform of the global financial system. She highlighted Namibia’s severe exposure to drought, heat and flooding despite its minimal contribution to global emissions, and demanded greater climate responsibility and sustainable financing.
🇰🇪 KENYA
President William Ruto linked Security Council reform with reform of the global financial system. Pointing to Africa’s renewable-energy resources, minerals, agricultural potential and young population, he argued that the continent seeks partnership and shared prosperity—not special treatment. “Africa does not come to plead; we come to propose.”
🇲🇿 MOZAMBIQUE
President Daniel Chapo called for a transition from the simple extraction of African resources to local processing, industrialization and regional value chains. He emphasized expanded energy access, climate-resilient infrastructure, adaptation finance, technology transfer and investment in Africa’s people.
🇬🇳 GUINEA
President Mamadi Doumbouya promoted development partnerships based on sovereignty and mutual benefit. He highlighted Guinea’s investment in roads, hospitals, schools, mineral-processing infrastructure and the Simandou project as part of its national development strategy.
🇸🇿 ESWATINI
King Mswati III renewed the call for permanent African representation on the Security Council and greater support for African-led peace initiatives. He also highlighted investment in agriculture, smallholder farmers, climate resilience and food security.
🇺🇬 UGANDA
Vice-President Jessica Alupo called for comprehensive reform of the UN and international financial institutions while protecting commitments under the 2030 Agenda. She also emphasized inclusive taxation, action against illicit financial flows, healthcare investment and stronger development financing.
🇷🇼 RWANDA
Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva argued that international institutions must be judged by what they deliver. He called for greater conflict prevention and a political solution to the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
🇨🇩 DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka called for the implementation of existing peace commitments and stronger governance of strategic minerals. She warned that a decarbonized global economy cannot be built through conflict-linked minerals and called for responsible supply chains, local mineral processing and the elimination of child labour in mining.
⚡ THE ACEN TAKEAWAY
Wednesday’s speeches carried a consistent message: Africa and the Caribbean want a greater role in setting the rules governing peace, finance, technology, climate action and the energy transition.
Leaders called for climate finance that arrives when it is needed, fairer borrowing conditions, responsible mineral supply chains, greater local value creation and energy development that produces lasting benefits for communities.
The region is not asking merely to supply the raw materials required for the global energy transition. It is demanding the opportunity to process those resources, build industries, expand energy access, develop skills and participate fully in shaping the future.
Follow the African & Caribbean Energy Network as we continue tracking the voices, commitments and energy priorities emerging from UNGA 81.
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