Africa’s Role at the UN: Why We Need a Seat

I am returning from the United Nations General Assembly in New York. I am filled with a profound sense of urgency. I also sense vast possibilities.

Our discussions on the future of AI and Africa’s role in it revealed a crucial truth.

Africa must have a seat at the global table. This is not just for prestige. It ensures that the lives of everyday Africans are shaped by those who understand them best.

The Importance of a Seat on the Security Council

One key reflection is that Africa’s absence from the UN Security Council is more than a symbolic omission.

It’s a missing piece in global decision-making.

It directly impacts our economic growth. It affects our social safety nets and our ability to protect our people.

Without that seat, we are relying on others to make choices that shape our continent’s future.

We must aim to change that by strengthening our own economic power, our diplomatic influence, and our collective voice.

Empowering Our People First

But let’s be clear: having a seat at the table begins at home.

It starts with empowering our own citizens.

We do this by investing in their dignity.

This is achieved through education, healthcare, and opportunities that allow them to thrive.

When we do this, we create an environment where African innovators can solve African problems.

This is how we shift from being subjects of global decisions to being authors of our own destiny.

A Call to the African Diaspora

We must also call on the African diaspora to think long-term.

Many of you are already supporting families back home.

Nonetheless, we need to channel some of that support into sustainable investments. These investments will build our local economies.

Let’s move beyond funding immediate consumption and focus on creating opportunities for African entrepreneurs and innovators.

We are taking action to not just aid development. We’re investing in a future where Africa stands strong on its own terms.

From Times Square to the UN Halls: A Vision for the Future

My time in New York was a vivid reminder of the contrasts we navigate.

In the polished rooms of the UN, we discussed policy.

Outside, in the bustling streets, I saw the real faces of those policies.

I saw people hustling for a couple dollars.

The homeless were crumpled on the streets.

The mentally ill were forced to walk the streets.

The working masses were going to and from work. They were dreaming and striving.

Our mission is to guarantee that those everyday downtrodden people are not just passive recipients. Especially, Africans should have a say in decisions made elsewhere. They should be active participants in shaping their own future.

In essence, the path ahead is clear.

We can lift up our people. We should invest in our own capabilities.

By claiming our place in global governance, Africa’s narrative can be written by Africans for Africans.

And in doing so, we won’t just be there in the world’s conversations; we will help lead them.

Onwards!