Ladies and gentlemen of the press,
Welcome.
It is good to be back in Nairobi and I thank the Kenyan government and people for their warm welcome.
The Chief Executives of the UN system are gathering here for an important meeting. This is yet another demonstration of Kenya’s vital place regionally and globally.
And this is a vital time, as we look at the unfolding crises in the region, especially in Sudan — a situation that is deeply concerning as it grows worse by the day.
Khartoum is in turmoil; Darfur is burning once again; and the UN Refugee Agency has already affirmed that more than 100,000 people have fled and 800,000 people might flee the country in the coming days and weeks.
The fighting needs to stop — and to stop now — before more people die and this conflict explodes into an all-out war that could affect the region for years to come.
All parties must put the interests of the Sudanese people first and that means peace, a return to civilian rule, allowing for the development of the country.
We are putting these goals front and centre as we engage with the parties to the conflict, and work hand-in-hand with the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, IGAD.
The Sudanese are facing a humanitarian catastrophe.
Hospitals destroyed.
Humanitarian warehouses looted.
Millions facing food insecurity.
And I echo President William Ruto’s strong calls for the parties to de-escalate tensions, return to the negotiating table, and agree on a lasting ceasefire.
In the meantime, the United Nations is ready to deliver for the Sudanese people, under the leadership of my Special Representative, Volker Perthes.
And the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, is now in Sudan to help ensure the continued flow of humanitarian assistance.
Aid must be allowed into Sudan, and we need secure and immediate access to be able to distribute it to people who need it most.
Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected. And humanitarian workers and their assets must be respected.
I call on the international community to support the Sudanese people in their pursuit for peace and a return to democratic transition.
Ladies and gentlemen of the press,
Africa is a place of enormous natural, human, cultural and entrepreneurial richness.
The African Union is a close and valued partner of the United Nations — from peacebuilding and peacekeeping, to our joint efforts to deliver Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda.
The recent ceasefire in Libya, the peace agreement in the Central African Republic are a cause for optimism.
And I salute Kenya’s leadership role in the peace processes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia.
Last month, I visited Somalia where I saw important progress in the fight against terrorism — bolstered by the African Union Transition Mission there.
And on Saturday, I will attend in Burundi the meeting of the Regional Oversight Mechanism to discuss peace and security in the DRC and the region.
Step by step, we are seeing African leadership working to solve African problems.
Ladies and gentlemen of the press,
The 21st century should be Africa’s century.
But a series of historic and economic injustices stand in the way.
The COVID-19 pandemic slowed and even reversed strong economic growth across the continent.
The global cost-of-living crisis, made worse by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has sent food and energy prices soaring.
Climate chaos — that Africans did very little to cause — is creating floods, hunger and deadly droughts.
And the dysfunctional and unjust global financial system denies many African countries the debt relief and the concessional funding they need.
Africa is doubly victimized.
First, by the scars of colonialism that linger to this day.
And second, by the injustice of the post-World War Two era, when global institutions — from United Nations to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank — were created. And at the time, the decolonization of Africa had yet to get underway and so, African countries were practically not present and, to this day, remain clearly under-represented.
The same applies to correct one of the biggest injustices in the international peace and security architecture – the absence of any permanent seat on the Security Council for the African continent.
This must be remedied.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I’ve made it my mission to stand with developing countries in their pursuit for justice.
First — financial justice.
Last year, the International Monetary Fund allocated 650 billion dollars in Special Drawing Rights – or SDRs — to boost liquidity during crises. This is money created out of nothing.
The countries of the European Union received a total of 160 billion dollars in SDRs, while African countries — with three times the population — received just 34 billion dollars.
This is an absurdity.
We need deep reforms to the global financial system so that Africa is represented at the highest level, and the needs of developing countries are at the heart of all policies and decisions.
And I’ve called for an SDG Stimulus package of at least 500-billion US dollars per year to scale-up affordable, long-term financing for developing countries.
Second — climate justice.
African countries are leading the way on climate.
I commend President Ruto’s commitment to transition to 100 per cent clean energy by 2030; South Africa’s Just Transition Energy Partnership; Egypt and Nigeria’s energy transition plans; and the AU’s ambitious Green Stimulus Programme.
These massive efforts need massive support.
And so, developed countries must deliver on the 100-billion US dollars a year promise to developing countries and the Loss and Damage Fund agreed in Sharm el-Sheikh.
I have proposed a Climate Solidarity Pact in which developed countries provide financial and technical support to help emerging economies — in Africa and beyond — to promote the just transition to renewable energy.
Third — Africa needs the justice that only peace can bring.
The United Nations will continue working to prevent and defuse the conflicts that plague the continent.
I have called consistently for a new generation of robust peace enforcement missions and counter-terrorism operations, led by the African Union with the UN Security Council mandate under Chapter VII of the Charter, and with guaranteed funding, namely through assessed contributions.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Once again, I am pleased to be back in Kenya.
The United Nations stands with Africa. And I will not relent in the quest for peace, prosperity, and global justice for all of the people of this great continent.
Thank you.
Moderator : First question to Elizabeth Atieno, TV 47.
Question: Elizabeth Atieno from TV47. Good evening. My first question is on climate justice, the climate crisis. So you recently said that climate change is a story of recklessness, injustice and greed. But there is still a story of hope. What is that silver lining in this whole climate crisis? For instance, in Kenya, we are watching the worst drought in 40 years, and currently we have the floods. How will you assure those Kenyans that there is a story of hope in all this? Thank you.
Secretary-General: First of all, it is absolutely essential to change course. And governments, but also the private sector – namely the energy sector and others that contribute to climate change – they need to dramatically reduce emissions in the present decade. Without the dramatic reduction of emissions in the present decade, we will see Kenya, and we'll see the African continent with an acceleration of the droughts, of the floods and other natural catastrophes that are undermining the possibility of developing and causing enormous suffering.
But in any case, climate change is already there. And so, it is essential that the promises that were made in order to strengthen the financing of adaptation, which means building resilience of communities, of infrastructure, to be able to better resist the impacts of climate change, it is absolutely essential that the financing of adaptation is dramatically increased. There was a promise in Sharm el-Sheikh, to double it, in Glasgow, to double it. We are not yet there. Our belief is that 50% of climate finance should be to adaptation. And in Sharm el-Sheikh, we decided to create the loss and damage fund. It's not yet operational, it is supposed to be operational during the next COP, but it is an essential contribution to support countries like Kenya that are facing the dramatic impact of climate change without having contributed much to it.
Moderator: Paul Adams, BBC.
Question: Thank you. Paul Adams, BBC. Secretary-General, a question on Sudan if I may. How confident are you that you can get the warring parties to agree to allow humanitarian aid to reach the places where it's needed? Because right now, safe passage simply doesn't exist. And do you think that the two generals have any intention of setting aside their differences in the interests of the people of Sudan and if they don't, how much worse will this get?
Secretary-General: I would like to say I am confident, but I am hopeful. Unfortunately, we are seeing the situation getting out of control and humanitarian aid needs access, unhindered and secure to all people in it. I'm hopeful that that will happen, but I'm not yet confident that that will happen. And indeed, we have not yet seen any ceasefire in Sudan lasting. We have now a new ceasefire brokered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Sudan and obviously, I strongly support this initiative, the UN has been working very closely with the African Union and IGAD to push for an effective ceasefire. But unfortunately, until now, all the ceasefires have not lasted.
And so I think it's important that the whole of the international community comes together and tells clearly the two generals -but also all those that eventually are taking profit of this- that the present situation is totally unacceptable; that a ceasefire, a lasting ceasefire, needs to take place; that a political dialogue needs to be established, and that the transition for a civilian government needs to be guaranteed. Unfortunately, we are not yet there.
Moderator: Andres, Financial Times in the front row.
Question: A follow-up up on my colleague’s question on Sudan. You're working with IGAD, you’re working with the African Union on trying to have these warring generals sit down at the table. How much else do you as the UN need from other regional and international powers - Gulf countries like the Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and then the United States etc.
Secretary-General: The contribution of everybody is welcome and necessary. We had, immediately after the crisis, convened by the President of the African Union, a meeting in which I was naturally present. We had IGAD, we had the League of Arab States and we had a number of countries, both countries of the region and countries of the Middle East, P5 members [permanent members of the UN Security Council] and I believe that all need to come together and all need to use their capacity to put pressure for this horrible, and I would say unjustified, conflict to stop.
A country like Sudan, that has suffered so much, that is in such a desperate economic and humanitarian situation, cannot afford a struggle for power between two people.
Moderator:Thanks, Nick [inaudible] CGTN Africa
Question: Thank you so much. So I have two questions. So the first question is, the crisis in Sudan is straining resources in bordering countries because without a doubt, people are moving for safety. What's being done by the UN agencies to support these countries to help them, those escaping from the conflict?
Number two is, a lot of focus has gone into silencing the guns in the region, which is a very noble and powerful idea. But there's a hidden turmoil as a result of the drought crisis in the Horn of Africa. Is the UN awake to this overshadowing of a real crisis? What's being done to mitigate?
Secretary-General: We have two dimensions. UNHCR is now very active in all neighbouring countries in order to support, obviously in close cooperation with the authorities in those countries, the refugees that are coming out. We have, as I mentioned, UNHCR has already estimated that more than 100,000 people have fled the country and they did their contingency planning for 800,000 people in order to be able to respond to a major outflow if the conflict goes on.
On the other hand, we have a a comprehensive Drought Response Plan for East African countries with a component for Kenya in which all the UN agencies have been involved, in which we have made a very strong financial appeal to the international community and in which we are doing everything we can to minimize the dramatic impact of the drought.
I was in Somalia less than a month ago, and I witnessed how the drought was again, creating the risks of famine in Somalia. I know how terribly impacted has been part of the territory of Kenya. And the UN is active in these two countries and the other countries of East Africa in order to provide the maximum possible assistance to the governments and the populations in relation to these very dramatic, clearly impact of climate change, in countries that, as I've mentioned, have not contributed much for climate change itself.
Moderator: Canadian Broadcasting.
Question: Secretary-General, you spoke about being hopeful but not confident. I want to ask you, what does spillover of this conflict - if it can't be stopped - look like in your mind on neighbouring nations?
Secretary-General: I'm very concerned first of all with Chad. The epicentre of this conflict still remains to a certain extent in Darfur, independent of what’s happening in Khartoum, and Chad is a country that is in a democratic transition. And Chad has been threatened, as you know, by militias operating in Libya, and it is absolutely essential to massively support Chad in the present situation.
On the other hand, we have other countries in the region that are in their own peace processes. Ethiopia is in a peace process. It is absolutely essential to avoid any spillover from Sudan to Ethiopia. South Sudan is in a slow and difficult process to implement the agreements that were made. Any disturbance in relation to South Sudan would be extremely dangerous. And obviously, other countries that are neighboring countries, but not facing the same kind of transition, would also inevitably face negative impacts of the conflict in Sudan, especially if there is a massive outflow of population.
Moderator: Thank you, Evelyne, Associated Press.
Question: Thank you. What's been the response from Moscow on the Black Sea Grain Initiative, you know, the extension from May 18. Are you more or less optimistic that this will be extended? And what do you say to critics who say China and Turkey and the rest of EU countries are the greatest beneficiaries of this initiatives as opposed to the developing countries mostly in Africa?
Secretary-General: The second part was?
Question: On the critics who say that EU countries, you know, China and Türkiye and all these countries are benefiting more from the initiative than developing countries like in Africa?
Secretary-General: Well, first of all, I have presented a new proposal for the extension, the improvement and the expansion of the Black Sea Initiative to the Presidents of the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Türkiye.
I was informed that the Kremlin is looking into the proposal and that there would be a response to my proposal.
At the same time, there is a delegation led by Rebeca Grynspan, that in the context of the different permanent contacts that we have had with the Russian Federation in relation to the memorandum of understanding about the facilitation of Russian exports of food and fertilizers. Rebeca Grynspan will be back in Moscow this week. So, we are actively engaged.
If you ask me if I am optimistic, I will answer with my usual quote – Jean Monnet: I am not optimistic, not pessimistic, I am determined. I think this is good for the world. I think this is good for the parties, and the UN will do everything possible to make it happen.
On the other hand, if one looks at exports from Ukraine, you have two kinds of exports. You have corn for animal feed, and it goes essentially to developed countries, because most developing countries do not use corn for animal feed. And you have grains for human consumption. In the grains for human consumption, the majority goes to developing countries. But obviously, countries like China, or others, are also developing countries. And we have sometimes more difficult capacity in African countries to be able to have access to markets. That is the reason why, beyond the volumes directly exported by Ukraine, and several African countries have benefited, I will give you an example - Egypt is an important client of those exports. You have the World Food Programme that has been conducting a series of shiploads heading to countries in difficult circumstances, most of them in the African continent. To give an example, Somalia, was one of the priorities of the World Food Programme.
So, I believe that we have a system that obviously, as it was said, a meaningful part of it also goes to developed countries, but even that has a positive impact to all countries, because it brings prices down. And, when you bring prices down everybody benefits and mainly the least developed countries are the ones that benefit the most.
Moderator: One more question. Please identify yourself.
Question: Mr. António Guterres, do you understand, this is not the first time Sudan is facing crisis. These crises have been there since whatever time we've been experiencing them. However, we'd like to know. It's not the first time the United Nations is facing this issue. Is there a different approach you are implementing this time to tackle this once and for all. Otherwise, would you say that the UN has failed to keep peace in Sudan, as of now? My name is Persil Telewa from The Standard Group. Thank you.
Secretary-General: That question is a difficult question, because this has taken all by surprise. The UN was taken by surprise and all the other organizations that I have met and all the other countries I am in dialogue with, were taken by surprise by the present crisis.
We were hopeful that the negotiations between the two would be successful and we have seen important progress in the negotiations for a transition for a civilian government. So, we were not expecting this to happen. To the extent that we and many others were not expecting this to happen, we can say that we failed to avoid it to happen. But I don't think there is anything we should have done that we didn't to avoid it, because as I mentioned, we were entirely convinced that this would not happen.