‘The future of Africa is in unity’, says Niger’s President, among continental leaders at UN Assembly

25 September 2014 – Addressing the United Nations General Assembly at its annual high-level debate, Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger warned today against attempts to balkanize Africa and underscored that the post-2015 sustainable development agenda need to be anchored in the “three D’s”: defense, democracy and development.

“The Pandora box of balkanization that is open in Africa needs to be closed again if one does not want the whole continent to go up in flames,” said President Issoufou, the first of several African leaders to address the General Debate of the 69th Assembly

“The future of Africa is in its unity. The move beyond the borders inherited from colonization is not to create new borders along ethnic or religious bases but to go beyond the current boundaries via integration,” he added.

Africa will be the continent of the 21st century with a strong middle class born out of good policy and economic governance that eases poverty through income distribution, the President noted.

The leader of the West African country highlighted conflicts in neighbouring Libya, Mali and Nigeria. He warned the international and local communities that it would be dangerous to let the insecurity grow instead of helping to bring about a peace, and called for a strategy that cuts off financing and blocks a terrorist strategy that uses propaganda heavily covered by the press adn social media.

In his address, Mohamed Moncef Mazouki, President of Tunisia, said that his country was moving ahead with a peaceful democratic transition, though it and its people had lived for many years under despotism.

President Mohamed Moncef Marzouki of Tunisia addresses the General Assembly. UN Photo/Cia Pak

“We are trying to grapple with the counter-revolution with moderation and ending the residue of despotism.” he said, emphasizing that Tunisia is also initiating socio-economic development that will be in harmony with the environment and in line with the sustainable development goals of the UN.

Yet, Tunisia’s progress was occurring “at the heart of a region that had witnessed political conflagrations” and the heinous activities of armed groups aimed at undermining the drive for democracy. He was ver concerned, for example, about the situation in neighboring Libya, and hoped that the leaders there would soon agree on a peaceful democratic State without outside influence or interventions. The wise men in the country must preserve national consensus.

More broadly, he expressed deep concern about the activities of armed groups committing grave acts in the wider region and the Middle East. Tunisia was ashamed that such acts were being carried out in the name of Allah, who was for peace and humanity. Nothing justifies this violence, which has reached such unprecedented levels, Mr. Mazouki said. Condemning the heinous killing of prisoners or hostages no matter what nationality they are, he said: “we are all human beings.”

He went on to say that regimes must rule in harmony with the will of the people. They must promote development, education and other polices which would lead to unifying societies and improving living standards. Some of the major powers had supported despotism for many years under the pretext of ensuring stability. Turning to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he called for lifting of all blockades on Gaza and throughout the territory. The Palestinian people are crying out for rebuilding their devastated lands, he added.

Finally, he reiterated his country’s call for the creation of an “international constitutional court” which would give advice on such issues as elections and adherence to international legal norms. Mr. Mazouki said that he hoped such a tribunal would soon “see the light of day”, bringing about the end of despotism. He hoped that process would not take as long as it taken to create the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Also addressing the Assembly, Hery Martial Rajaonarimampianina Rakotoarimanana, President of Madagascar, said that his country was home to five per cent of the world’s biodiversity. As such, when he took office, he had “declared war” on traffickers of rosewood, as well as on all those traded in protected species. He also established an inter-ministerial committee that monitored Madagascar’s “zero tolerance policy” on all trafficking of wildlife and natural resources.

President Hery Martial Rajaonarimampianina Rakotoarimanana of the Republic of Madagasca addresses the General Assembly. UN Photo/Cia Pak

Yet, the President continued, traffickers were able to thwart the stringent oversight measures, largely because of shortfall in resources. Madagascar’s location made it imperative to protect its natural environment and marine resource. It was a perilous region, vulnerable to piracy and all manner of trafficking. While addressing other pressing issues, the Government had been able to declare nearly 10 per cent of the country as protected natural reserves.

On other matters, he said that after years of political instability and crippling polices and measures such as sanctions, Madagascar will not reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. However, the country is undertaking a major drive to invest in its people, enhance its infrastructure, expand education opportunity and boost ICT use. Citing one major example, he said more than 100 basic healthcare centres had been opened in recent months.

In additions, President Rajaonarimampianina said tangible results had also been achieved on the security front including, curbing massive cattle theft in parts of the country. As for the post-2015 development agenda, he said that Madagascar was committed to creating a modern, open and transparent nation that respected human rights. “

“Our primary goal is to bring our people out of their precarious situation,” he said, citing major projects to boost Madagascar’s agriculture sector. The aim is not only to improve livelihoods at home, but to transform Madagascar into a “food hub” in the region. He added that his Government is also working hard to create jobs and enhance its tourism infrastructure, both of which are vital for development.

Since Wednesday, speakers have taken to the podium in the UN’s renovated General Assembly Hall to address the 193 Member State on the theme of “Delivering on and Implementing a Transformative Post-2015 Development Agenda” as well as urgent crises ranging from the ongoing conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Ukraine and South Sudan.

Climate change was among the topics noted in the addresses of other leaders today, including Ethiopia’s Hailemariam Dessalegn. The Prime Minister told the Assembly that climate change is undermining his country’s efforts to meet its development aspirations, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn of Ethiopia addresses the General Assembly. UN Photo/Cia Pak

He called for international support on mitigation and adaptation, to adequately recognize the efforts of his country to minimize the impacts of climate change.

“Although we have contributed virtually nothing to global warming, we are indeed playing a leading role in terms of mitigation by scaling up our efforts in renewable energy and promoting energy efficiency,” Mr. Dessalegn said.

“It is only fair and proper that this be adequately recognized and supported,” he added, noting that the world has the capacity and resources to address the challenges, though it still requires leadership and political commitment at all levels.

He also addressed the security situation in the region, including the fighting in neighbouring Somalia, and ongoing crisis in South Sudan, towatds whose peaceful resolution Ethiopia is cooperating with the UN, the African Union and other international partners.

“We cannot be oblivious to the nexus between our sustainable development agenda and the global situation of peace and security,” Mr. Dessalegn cautioned.

In his address, Al Hadji Yahya Jammeh, President of Gambia, said it was well known that injustice, iniquities, exclusion and greed created international tensions that could lead to catastrophic consequences. This is exacerbated by the “lamentable inertia on the part of the United Nations” as powerful Member States took advantage of weaker ones. The founding fathers of the Organization had intended a world body committed to promoting the principles of peace and security, respectful of the cultural values of all peoples.

President Hadji Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh of the Gambia addresses the General Assembly. UN Photo/Cia Pak

To uphold those principles, the Member States needed to avoid all forms of aggression by exercising maximum restraint in their pursuit of national interests. When there were wars, the world economy suffered. The UN must be an all-encompassing global body working in the service of all, and not just for a few, he said.

Mr. Jammeh said the international community should build from the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals to face the challenges of the day. The themes of this year's General Assembly were thus timely, and gave impetus to further the international agenda post-2015. There is a need to take stock of the Millennium Development Goals' achievements and failures, particularly struggling countries that would not meet their targets on time.

There are a few current issues in which the United Nations could play a stronger role, he said. One such case is the Ebola disease. For the affected countries, development efforts are now on hold as they grapple with the virus. Humanitarian aid from the United States to battle Ebola was more than just a humanitarian gesture; it was a matter of national security.

The situation in the Middle East remained dire, he said, decrying the loss of life in Palestine, especially that of women and children. Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands are unacceptable and undermine any prospect for a two-State solution. The UN has played a strategic mediating role in the past, and must take up a leading role to achieve a durable and peaceful settlement.

In his speech, the President of Gabon, Omar Bongo Ondimba, said his country has launched a national strategic plan to ensure sustainable development. "This plan stems from a vision, an approach that led to define an ambitious development that integrates the concerns reflected in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the challenges of climate change and food security."

Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabon, addresses the general debate of the sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly. UN Photo/Cia Pak

"It gives prominence to everything that contributes to the development of the potential of young people. The strategy implemented by Gabon aims to accelerate the structural transformation of its economy in the near future, from a cash economy to an economy of industries and services with high value added,” he added.

Mr. Bongo stressed that these efforts can only thrive in a political, economic and social environment where good governance exists, and it is in this context, that Gabon has institutional instruments such as the National Commission for the fight against illicit enrichment, whose mission is to ensure transparency and the obligation to be accountable in the management of public funds.

"Since then I have made the fight against corruption a priority and…audits and inspections are conducted extensive nationwide with consistent results," said Mr. Bongo.

On the Ebola crisis, Mr. Bongo said that since the threat of the spread of the virus is global, national responses must be followed up by a general mobilization at the international level.

"My country, which once won the battle with several crises of the Ebola virus, proposes to provide the services of the International Center for Medical Research in Franceville, whose expertise on this epidemic is proved," he said.

Also addressing the Assembly, Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of Malawi, said that in late May, his country had held its first ever tripartite elections, which enabled Malawians to choose their political leadership, through a democratic and peaceful process. The elections ushered him into office, as the fifth President of the Republic of Malawi. “I would, therefore, wish to inform this Assembly, that despite few challenges, the elections were free, fair, transparent and credible… Malawi has come out of the election much stronger than before.”

Peter Mutharika president of Malawi, addresses the general debate of the sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly. Photo/Kim Haughton

He went on to say that the choice of "Delivering on and implementing a Transformative Post 2015 Development Agenda" as the theme for this session of the General Assembly, could not be more appropriate. The fight against poverty, hunger, and inequality, constitutes the greatest challenge of our time, he said, adding that the theme further augurs well with the plans and aspirations of the people of Malawi.

“It is important that, the next global development agenda, should draw lessons on the successes and challenges of the current blue print, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Rather than seeing 2015 as an end point, we must view it as the beginning of a new era; an era in which we eradicate extreme poverty, protect the environment and promote economic opportunity for all,” he declared.

Continuing, President Mutharika said Malawi is on track to achieving four of the eight MDGs, namely: reducing child mortality; combating HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases; ernsuring environmental sustainability; and developing a global partnership for development. However, it is unlikely that the country would meet the remaining goals: eradicating extreme poverty and hunger; achieving universal access to education; ensuring gender equality and empowerment of women; and improving maternal health.

“Malawi, will, therefore, be entering the post-2015 development [era] with unfinished business of the MDGs,” he said, explain that one reason for this is inadequate resources. Commitments made by development partners have been unpredictable and often times not fulfilled. “To achieve delivery of the post-2015 development agenda, the global community should not repeat this mistake,” he said, stressing that, more importantly, accountability and transparency, as well as monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, should be promoted.

Also speaking today, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of Tanzania, similarly highlighted the importance of the upcoming MDG deadline in 2015, and issued an appeal to the international community that it “not lose sight of the unfinished business of the Millennium Development Goals.”

President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of Tanzania, addresses General Assembly. UN Photo/Kim Haughton

With 461 days remaining until the MDG target date, he warned that the world risked falling short on its promises because of the “unpredictable, unreliable, insufficient and untimely availability of financial resources”, and he called for the creation of “a mechanism to ensure a stable, predictable and reliable source of finance” for nations as they pushed forward in achieving the post-2015 development agenda.

Turning to the issue of climate change, President Kikwete thanked Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for having convened the recent Climate Summit at UN Headquarters in New York. The President noted, however, that a legally binding climate agreement is imperative and added that Africa was “appealing to all countries from all continents” to reach a consensus at the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Paris. “Failure is not an option,” stressed President Kikwete.

The President also voiced concern about the expanding Ebola crisis but expressed his hope that the international community bore the “technology, knowledge and financial resources, which if put together, can stand up against the threat” of the disease.

On that note, he specified four areas in which the UN, its agencies, the US and “other countries with technical-technological capabilities” could help those countries affected by the crisis, including providing a “continued and bolstered” support for the countries until the disease is contained; assisting other nations in Africa “to build capacity for surveillance, isolation and treatment”; intensify efforts to provide those affected countries with cures and vaccines; and, finally, “to stop the stigma that is developing against Africa because of Ebola” which threatens “to kill the all-important tourism trade and investments.”

Also taking the General Assembly podium, Mankeur Ndiaye, Senegal’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Senegalese living abroad, said it was important to work towards inclusive development. His Government has put into place a national development plan as a reference point for economic and social policy.

Foreign Minister Mankeur Ndiaye of Senegal addresses the General Assembly. UN Photo/Kim Haughton

Africa faced myriad challenges, one of them being terrorism in the Sahel, which threatened the very foundation of societies and hindered development efforts. He welcomed the Security Council’s adoption yesterday of a resolution pledging to fight extremism, militia and armed groups.

The Horn of Africa is also affected by several conflicts, and West Africa is faced with a health catastrophe now with the Ebola outbreak, he said, welcoming the resounding success of today’s Secretary-General meeting which declared that the virus is not just an Africa problem and warranted international attention and resources.

A holistic approach is needed to strengthen capacity of countries that often face reoccurring crises. To that end, Senegal pledged to continue to support UN peacekeeping operations. But in those affected countries, in addition to political resolutions, economies must also be strengthened so that people have a chance at a better life. The severity of different crises is systematic of a status quo in which reform of the Security Council continues to be bogged down.