28th Assembly of the African Union |30 January 2017

Africa’s relevance calls for reforms at the UN, says President Faure

President Danny Faure called on the new Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Gueterres for a new inclusive leadership by the United Nations as the only means to ensure that 1 billion Africans are not marginalised in decision-making that affect our continent.

He called for a pragmatic approach to the partnership between the United Nations (UN) and Africa.

The President of Seychelles made this remark yesterday at the High-Level Working Breakfast between the Heads of State of the African Union (AU) and the freshly elected UNSG ahead of the 28th Assembly of the AU, which kicks off in Addis Ababa today (January 30).

In his remarks at yesterday’s event, President Faure welcomed the meeting describing it as an opportunity for enhanced partnership between UN and AU.  He commended the efforts towards Agenda 2030 and the need to have one reporting system. 

“Reforms should also take into account a new breed of leadership that is committed to reforms,” added President Faure.

President Faure was making his first appearance and intervention at the African Union since taking office in October last year. He pointed out that with its population of one billion, Africa was relevant hence the need for reforms of the UN, especially its highest decision-making body, the Security Council, to echo this relevance of Africa.

Immediately after the breakfast, held in the Multi-Purpose Hall of the AU headquarters, President Faure attended the retreat of the African Heads of State and Government at which Rwandan President Paul Kagame made a presentation on structural reforms of the African Union Commission, the governing body of the AU.

Other members of the delegation who attended the working breakfast for Heads of State of the AU and Retreat of the African Heads of State and Government included Department of Foreign Affairs’ Foreign Secretary, Ambassador Marie-Louise Potter and Seychelles’ ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent representative to the AU, Joseph Nourrice.