Addis ababa: In a world where division and mistrust are prevalent, the African Union stands as a beacon for multilateralism, underscored by the recent remarks of the UN Secretary-General at the African Union Summit. Expressing deep gratitude, the Secretary-General highlighted the unwavering support of the African Group in the United Nations, emphasizing the importance of Africa's role in global decision-making processes. According to EMM, the Secretary-General reflected on the strong partnership forged with the African Union from the onset of his mandate. This collaboration has reached unprecedented heights over the past decade, encompassing joint initiatives on peace, security, sustainable development, and human rights. Notable achievements include joint efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, the establishment of new partnerships, and the historic adoption of Security Council resolution 2719 (2023), which facilitates predictable funding for African Union-led peace support operations. The Secretary-General a cknowledged the African Union's priorities, such as Silencing the Guns, the African Humanitarian Agency, and promoting inclusive political transitions. He also recognized Africa's leadership in advocating for global justice, confronting the legacies of slavery and colonialism, and calling for reparatory justice frameworks. Africa's commitment to driving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate ambition, and reforming the global financial system, including the UN Security Council, was also highlighted. The Secretary-General underscored the indefensibility of the absence of permanent African seats in the Security Council, asserting that in 2026, Africa must be involved in all decisions affecting the continent and the world. These priorities have informed the Pact for the Future and the UN80 Initiative, aimed at strengthening UN support for Africa. Looking ahead, the Secretary-General outlined three major focus areas: peace, economic action, and climate action. On peace, he emphasized the need for imm ediate ceasefires and inclusive political processes in Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, and Libya. The Secretary-General also called for coordinated efforts to address violence, terrorism, and displacement across West Africa and the Sahel, and stressed the importance of sustained funding for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia. On economic action, the Secretary-General highlighted the staggering $4 trillion annual financing gap for the SDGs faced by developing countries. He urged for the reform of the international financial architecture, increased lending power for multilateral development banks, and greater efforts to combat money-laundering, tax evasion, and illicit financial flows. On climate action, the Secretary-General pointed out Africa's potential as a clean energy powerhouse, despite receiving only 2 percent of global clean energy investment. He emphasized the need for tripling adaptation finance, mobilizing $1.3 tri llion annually for developing countries by 2035, and ensuring African countries benefit from their critical minerals through sustainable value chains. The Secretary-General concluded by reaffirming his commitment to Africa, stating that the African Union-UN partnership will remain a strategic priority. He assured that Africa will continue to be a primary focus until the end of his mandate and beyond, underscoring the deep solidarity and partnership between the African Union and the United Nations.