News24 | Lofty goals in New York are fine, but Africa needs money, AU says – and SA can help

African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat addressed the Summit of the Future in New York. (@_AfricanUnion/ X, formerly Twitter)

• The world has big goals, as laid out at the Summit of the Future in New York.
• The AU says the continent is keen to help achieve those goals – but needs money..
• With the AU and SA forming part of the G20, there’s hope of more voices speaking for the continent.

Africa still needs money to implement lofty international goals, but South Africa’s seat at the G20 can help.

This was the substance of African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat’s address at the Summit of the Future in New York, where the world adopted an optimistic agenda covering peace and security, global governance, sustainable development, climate change mitigation, digital cooperation, human rights, gender parity, and young people and future generations.

Those resolutions directly spoke to the AU’s Agenda 2060, said Mahamat – but funding has been a problem.

“For each of these areas, the AU has developed strategies that have subsequently been translated into action plans, although their implementation is seriously hampered by the scarcity of funding and governance deficiencies, which there is no point in hiding,” he said.

African heads of state and technocrats from various fields arrived in New York with the same grievances as in previous years, and the same questions about the commitment to the continent from global superpowers.

Mahamat said he hoped that “this time, the wealthy will keep their commitments and that Africa and other parts of the world will draw from within themselves the resources of intelligence, motivation, will, and solidarity necessary for its salvific emergence”.

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He challenged the AU and South Africa, which hold the two Africa-focused G20 seats, to promote resolutions arrived at the Summit of the Future that are favourable to the continent.

“The next G20, where Africa will be jointly represented by the AU and the Republic of South Africa, faces a simple but decisive requirement: to translate the recommendations of the summit into action and to align with the hopes of a youth attacking the future,” he added.

Speaking at the same platform, Kenya’s President William Ruto called for the reform of the United Nations Security Council as part of re-organising multilateralism.

He argued that, under the current set-up, Africa was getting a raw deal in addressing issues, such as climate change, inequality and debt.

“Today, we have no choice, but to reject outdated systems and re-imagine a framework of international cooperation that works for all eight billion people,” he said.

As per the Sustainable Development Goals  (SDGs) Report 2024, the advancement towards the SDGs has been impeded by the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, war and conflict.

It’s estimated that about R76 trillion is needed annually in investments for developing nations to meet the SDGs.

Ruto warned that the gap was widening as the 2030 deadline approached.

“Developing countries, particularly in Africa and the Global South, are facing severe funding shortages, and the gap is widening,” he said.

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio spoke on behalf of the G7+ countries faced with active conflict, or have recent experience of conflict and fragility – from Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and the Caribbeans.

He said the Pact for the Future was a welcome instrument to work towards peace and stability for member states.

The News24 Africa Desk is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The stories produced through the Africa Desk and the opinions and statements that may be contained herein do not reflect those of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.