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Africa Leaders Takes West, UN to Task at General Assembly

African leaders have pulled no punches at the 78th UN General Assembly, lambasting the West for its actions on the African continent.

In his address at UNGA, Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera urged Western governments to stop colonising African economic assets and financial systems. He also discouraged African leaders from stashing corrupt proceeds in Western banks and to prosecute western citizens that aid corruption in Africa, writes Levison Namanyalo for Nyasa Times.

While in his address, the President of the Central African Republic Faustin Touadera, accused Western countries of triggering a migration crisis by pillaging Africa's natural resources and impoverishing the continent through slavery and colonisation.

In his first UNGA meeting as newly-elected leader of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu on September 20, spoke of the plunder of minerals from the continent, and called on the UN to back African nations in their fight against smugglers of mineral resources, Premium Times reports. About the UN, he said the body must "transform from being one of the world's foremost talkshops to discuss global issues into becoming the world's foremost action coordination centres, Premium Times reports. The president further called for "genuine partnership for Nigeria and Africa's development, rather than cosmetic gestures of the past".

African leaders have since Wednesday September 20, 2023, voiced their commitment to achieving sustainable development and called for a more equitable and prosperous world.

A recurring theme in speeches delivered by the presidents of Seychelles, Namibia, Ghana, Angola, Sierra Leone and Liberia was the urgent need to rebuild trust and rekindle global solidarity in the face of complex changes.

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa urged the wealthier nations to honour their financial commitments toward developing nations' fight against climate change. He also told U.S. representatives that Africa is ready for new investment opportunities.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame discussed the lack of progress toward achieving Sustainable Deveopment Goals, reducing conflict around the globe, and finding ways to boost international cooperation.

In his address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, the president of Mozambique, said that the main reason for lack of progress on the 2030 sustainable development agenda is similar lack of trust and solidarity "between those who have a lot and those who have little or almost nothing at all".

The 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) runs from September 19 to September 26, 2023.

InFocus

Rick Bajornas / UN Photo

A view of the flags outside the General Assembly building during the general debate in September 2023.

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