Johannesburg: UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Executive Secretary, Claver Gatete emphasized the crucial role of South Africa’s G-20 presidency in advancing actionable solutions to global challenges disproportionately affecting Africa. The Executive Secretary remarked at the G-20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Johannesburg.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the G-20 Summit is a defining moment as the world today is experiencing profound geopolitical shifts marked by escalating conflicts, economic uncertainties, and a widening trust deficit in multilateralism. ‘While Africa is not the instigator of these global crises, it remains among the most affected,’ Gatete noted.
Gatete pointed to the devastating impacts of climate change, leading to food insecurity and displacement, and the economic fallout from external shocks like rising debt burdens and volatile commodity markets. ‘Today, 1.1 billion people live in acute multidimensional poverty, with over half of them being children,’ he stated. ‘Furthermore, it is unacceptable that 3.3 billion people reside in countries that spend more on debt service than on development,’ the executive secretary remarked.
He cited the recent floods in Libya, prolonged droughts in the Horn of Africa, and the lingering economic effects of the pandemic as stark reminders of the urgent need for coordinated global action. Without decisive intervention, Gatete expressed concern that Africa’s development trajectory will be significantly constrained.
The UNECA chief stressed the G20’s responsibility and capacity to shape global responses. Particularly, he emphasized the importance of rebuilding trust in multilateralism. To be effective, we must restore trust in multilateralism, he urged. ‘We need a commitment to a more inclusive and equitable global governance system – one that does not merely recognize Africa’s challenges but actively integrates African voices and priorities in crafting solutions,’ Gatete added.
Underscoring the need to respond boldly, Gatete outlined key areas of action including reforming the global financial architecture to ensure Africa’s access to development financing, debt relief, and climate finance solutions. ‘Sovereign debt distress remains an existential threat, with 20 African countries in or at risk of distress due to debt obligations exceeding 1.1 trillion USD,’ he mentioned. The failure of the G20 Common Framework for debt resolution underscores the urgency of systemic reform, he added.
Gatete also underscored the importance of upholding principles of peace and security through proactive diplomacy, conflict prevention, and regional stabilization efforts. Moreover, the executive secretary stressed the need for leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to strengthen economic resilience and facilitate inclusive industrialization.
Gatete expressed optimism that South Africa’s G20 presidency, particularly through initiatives like the Cost of Capital Commission and Task Forces on Economic Growth, Food Security, and Digital Innovation, offers a vital opportunity to advance these solutions. Africa is ready to be a constructive partner to build a more stable, prosperous, and inclusive world, he added.