President Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, current Chairperson of the African Union, has spoken.
As predicted, he was begging throughout:
1. MORE MONEY FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: Ndayishimiye complained about “high financing costs” and the “heavy debt burden,” calling for reform of the international financial system to provide “predictable, affordable, sustainable financing.”
2. CLIMATE MONEY FOR AFRICA: He called for stronger international support through “climate financing and technology transfer.”
3. MORE RESOURCES FOR AFRICAN YOUTH PROGRAMS: He called for the AU’s Youth, Peace and Security Agenda to receive “resources commensurate with its ambitions.”
4. ASSISTANCE FOR BURUNDI: This one was direct. Ndayishimiye invited international partners to support Burundi’s 2040-2060 development plan through “multifaceted assistance.”
5. INVESTMENT AND TECHNOLOGY: Burundi also wants partners to provide investments, technology transfer, capacity building and partnerships to transform agriculture, infrastructure, energy, water, education and health.
6. MORE FINANCING FOR THE UN: He also called for more predictable and sustainable financing of the United Nations, arguing that the organization cannot be given greater responsibilities without the necessary resources.
So the requests from President Évariste Ndayishimiye were clear: affordable financing, climate money, resources for AU programs, assistance to Burundi, investment, technology transfer and capacity building.
Another African president comes to the United Nations with the language of financing, assistance, resources and international solidarity.
Prof.
-Tapang Ivo Tanku