António Guterres has urged sweeping reforms to address Africa’s estimated $1.6 trillion annual development financing gap, warning that the continent’s debt burden and high borrowing costs are undermining progress toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063.
In a video message to the 12th African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in Addis Ababa, he highlighted that some African countries face interest rates up to three times higher than global benchmarks, severely limiting their ability to invest in development.
Guterres stressed the need to reform the international financial system and improve Africa’s representation in global financial institutions, echoing calls for structural change already raised under recent global financing discussions.
He also called for investment in clean energy, infrastructure, and digital transformation, noting that initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area could drive industrial growth, job creation, and energy transition across the continent.
The UN chief further warned that persistent challenges—including climate change, infrastructure gaps, limited access to electricity and water, and ongoing conflicts—continue to slow Africa’s development trajectory, calling for stronger global solidarity and coordinated action.
