UN Secretary-General António Guterres commended Africa’s “steady practical work” to address pressing challenges during his address at the 39th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa this week. Speaking to reporters on February 16, 2026, he emphasized the continent’s resilience despite operating in what he called the most polarized global environment since the Cold War.
Guterres highlighted Africa’s advancements in regional integration, clean energy investments, and infrastructure development, noting progress occurs “sometimes unevenly, sometimes slowly, but it is happening.” He specifically praised the strengthened UN-AU partnership in advancing peace initiatives, financial justice reforms, and climate resilience programs.
However, the UN chief warned that crises in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Sahel region remain complex due to overlapping geopolitical and economic pressures. While acknowledging Africa’s fast-growing economies, he criticized the “deeply unjust” global financial architecture that leaves many nations burdened by debt and high borrowing costs, limiting critical investments in education and healthcare.
On climate change, Guterres stressed the paradox of Africa suffering disproportionately from droughts and floods despite contributing minimally to emissions. He renewed calls for increased international support to help the continent transition to renewable energy and adapt to environmental shocks.
