It also marked what Guterres said would likely be his last AU-UN summit as Secretary-General.
“This is my last AU and UN conference as Secretary-General,” he later told reporters in the Ethiopian capital. “But the ties between our organizations are stronger than ever and will continue to be.”
The Secretary-General and the Chairman of the AU Commission signed a declaration reaffirming the principles of the joint UN-AU frameworks, further institutionalizing cooperation between the two organizations.
Pillar of global progress
Guterres described the African Union as “the flagship of multilateralism in Africa” and “a collective voice of justice for the developing world,” highlighting the importance and potential of the continent.
He said the Pact for the Future, adopted in 2024, underlined the importance of regional organizations, particularly the AU, and called for a reform of the Security Council to make it more representative of today’s world.
“The continued exclusion of Africa from permanent representation is indeed a historic injustice and we cannot accept it,” he said.
“This is not about privilege or symbolism. It is about ensuring that the Council is fit for purpose and able to act legitimately and effectively.”
Financial reform
The Secretary-General also highlighted what he described as deep inequalities in the international financial architecture, saying that African countries continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to affordable capital.
“The current global financial architecture does not provide adequate levels of support, nor sufficient voice and participation for Africa,” he said.
He noted that many African countries often pay up to three times the benchmark rate to borrow, depleting public resources that could otherwise be invested in water, sanitation, health and education.
Guterres praised African-led reform efforts, including the African Development Bank’s initiative to create a New African Development Finance Architecture, bringing together African financial institutions.
“Africa takes the lead in solving African problems,” he said.
AU Commission President Mahmoud Ali Youssouf (right) greets Secretary-General António Guterres in Addis Ababa.
Climate and energy
Guterres also warned that climate change continues to affect Africa the most, although the continent is contributing the least to the crisis.
A temporary exceedance of the 1.5°C temperature limit is now “inevitable, but not irreversible”, he said, calling for greater funding for adaptation and greater investment in Africa’s renewable energy potential.
By 2040, he said, Africa could generate 10 times more electricity than it needs solely from renewables, while also supplying power to the 600 million Africans who still lack electricity.
But he warned that Africa receives only two percent of global clean energy investment, and urged action to remove barriers such as weak networks, high capital costs and fragile supply chains.
The consequences of the Middle East
In a separate meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and the chair of the AU Commission, Guterres also warned that Africa is especially vulnerable to the global economic effects of the Middle East crisis, particularly disruptions related to the Strait of Hormuz.
He said even an immediate reopening would bring serious consequences, including slower growth and higher inflation, while a prolonged disruption could increase the risk of a global recession.
The effects, he warned, would be particularly severe for African economies already facing high debt, energy costs and difficulties accessing fertilizers.
Silencing the guns
Peace and security also featured prominently in talks between the AU and the UN.
Guterres said the UN strongly supports the “Silencing the Guns” initiative of the African Union and the African Humanitarian Agency, while highlighting cooperation on conflicts in Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya and the Sahel.
He called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Sudan and renewed dialogue in the Sahel to confront violent extremism and terrorism.
“I have always believed that Africa should be seen for what it is: a continent of immense wealth and promise,” he said.