Gatete calls for stronger UN-AU cooperation to advance Africa’s priorities
The African Union and the United Nations need stronger cooperation to address Africa’s peace, security and development priorities and strengthen the continent’s voice in global affairs, Claver Gatete, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has said.
Gatete said the two organisations could respond more effectively to Africa’s needs by working together on peace and security, sustainable development and regional integration.
He made the remarks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on October 25, 2026, during an event marking United Nations Day, which commemorates the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945.
“By working together on peace and security, sustainable development and regional integration, our two organizations can better respond to Africa’s priorities and strengthen its voice in global affairs,” Gatete said.
His remarks come as the international community continues to face conflicts, climate change and economic uncertainty, challenges he said require collective action to build a better future.
The United Nations has expanded from 51 founding members in 1945 to 193 member states, including 54 from Africa, according to Gatete.
He said the organisation’s work spans conflict prevention, humanitarian assistance, human rights protection and sustainable development, with its agencies working alongside national institutions and communities to improve access to essential services and address humanitarian needs.
Gatete also highlighted the importance of cooperation on climate action, saying national efforts must be supported by international partnerships.
Ethiopia’s preparations to host the 32nd Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP32) in 2027 offer an opportunity to advance global cooperation, particularly on climate adaptation and finance, he said.
The country has pursued environmental restoration and climate resilience through initiatives such as its Green Legacy Initiative, which promotes reforestation.
Gatete said the United Nations would continue working with Ethiopia and other partners to support preparations for the conference.
He also recognised Ethiopia’s longstanding role in international cooperation, noting that it was among the 51 founding members of the United Nations and one of only four African countries to join the organisation at its inception in 1945.
Addis Ababa hosts the ECA, the African Union and the UN country team, alongside numerous diplomatic missions, making it a major centre for international diplomacy.
Gatete said the UN’s work should ultimately serve people, calling for renewed commitment to the principles of its founding Charter.
“The United Nations Charter begins with the words ‘We the peoples.’ They affirm that everything we do must ultimately serve the people of this world,” he said.
He called for a United Nations that delivers at national, continental and global levels, leaving no one behind.
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