UNGA@80: Africa must take action beyond mere words and rhetoric

Our beloved Africa is bleeding. We, as sons and daughters of this continent, must rise to her rescue, stand up to protect her interests, and prioritise progress and growth. It is time that, as Africans, we move beyond words and act, without resorting to glorified speeches designed merely to appease those who have deliberately become stumbling blocks to our advancement.

Africa does not need permission from any country, continent, or so-called economic superpower to develop or undertake projects for the benefit of its citizens. Let us, as Africans, arise collectively to fight poverty, stigma, racism, inequality, and other social vices that hinder our development.

The time is now! African youth must be angry enough to demand change. It is disheartening to see our leaders dine and wine, shaking hands with the very people who exploit and undermine our continent for their selfish interests—only to turn around and brand us as corrupt and incompetent, incapable of managing our own affairs.

To the sons and daughters of Africa, the future is now! We cannot afford to fail generations yet unborn, nor can we continue to wallow in poverty and marginalization while sitting atop abundant mineral resources, all in the name of global trade.

Africa does not need the approval of the United Nations (UN) to determine her own future. What we need is a mindset of possibility, a renewed commitment, and unwavering efforts to take the continent to the promised land of dignity and prosperity. Our actions must speak louder than words.

At this year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Africa’s 54-member states were fully represented, with leaders presenting speeches before the 193-member body.

While some stood firm, holding UN leadership to account for equity and fairness, others reduced their platform to empty rhetoric and propaganda.

Among the speeches that were bold, inspiring, and true to the spirit of Pan-Africanism were those delivered by President William Ruto of Kenya and President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana.

President Mahama rightly argued that the UN Charter is outdated on representation. With globalization rapidly evolving, how can the most powerful post-World War II nations still monopolize control, wielding near-totalitarian influence over global affairs? This contradicts Chapter 2, Article 1 of the UN Charter, which declares that “The Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its members.” If this principle were genuine, Africa—with its size and number of member states—would have a permanent seat on the Security Council.

Mahama further insisted that veto power must not remain the preserve of five nations, nor should it be absolute. There must be a mechanism for the General Assembly to counter a veto, ensuring no single nation can abuse it for selfish interests.

President Ruto echoed these sentiments, stressing that Africa’s exclusion from permanent Security Council membership is unfair and undermines the UN’s credibility. He reminded the world that Africa bears the “heaviest cost of instability.” Citing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, he emphasized that “the world is bigger than five,” referring to the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China.

These were not empty speeches. They inspired hope, invoked the spirit of Pan-Africanism, and re-echoed Africa’s readiness to carry the bull by the horns in defending its place in global governance if the UN fails to heed calls for reform.

These concerns must not be dismissed. The UN leadership must recognize them as genuine demands. Ignoring Africa’s voice risks precipitating a deeper crisis for the institution itself.

It is either now or never. Ghana and Kenya, as forerunners, must rise to inspire other African countries to resist the infiltration of exploitative Western interests. The Western world knows the truth of our cause. Our demands threaten their economic stranglehold on Africa, and they will attempt to resist through higher tariffs and trade manipulations. But with unity and determination, we will overcome.

The time for polished speeches is over. These must be the darkest days for the West to reckon with Africa’s resolve. Without Africa, the Western economies would grind to a halt. They depend on our raw materials to feed their industries, yet we remain underdeveloped, threatened with sanctions, and exploited despite our abundance in both human and natural resources. Africa must now embrace a “production-to-consumption” model by promoting African-made goods to reduce dependency on imports.

We, the youth of Africa, must take ownership of our continent’s development, making it conducive for growth rather than chasing uncertain opportunities abroad and allowing our dreams to perish.

The fight against brain drain is non-negotiable. Our demand for a permanent UN seat must not be taken lightly—it is a “do-or-die” matter. If the UN refuses, we must be ready to support our leaders in considering withdrawal from the institution.