Algerian Radio
The President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, delivered an address on Saturday in Addis Ababa to the Summit of the African Union (AU) Committee of Ten (C-10) on the reform of the United Nations Security Council, held on the sidelines of the 39th Ordinary Session of the AU Summit. The address was read by Prime Minister Mr. Sifi Ghrieb. Below is the full speech translation:
"In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
Prayers and peace be upon the noblest of Messengers,
Excellency Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Coordinator of the African Union Committee of Ten on UN Security Council Reform,
Excellencies, Heads of State and Government,
Mr. Chairperson of the African Union Commission,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me, first of all, to extend my thanks to the Republic of Sierra Leone, a brotherly country, in its capacity as Chair of the African Union Committee of Ten on Security Council Reform, for its sincere and sustained efforts in promoting the noble objectives of our Committee, aimed at unifying Africa's voice and strengthening its place on the international stage.
We aspire today to consolidate and energize these efforts constructively and resolutely through the conclusions of our present Summit. This constitutes an opportunity to evaluate the path of our collective negotiation process, adapt our strategy of action to the evolutions of the international context, and renew our common efforts to effectively achieve the objectives outlined: a just and comprehensive reform of the United Nations Security Council.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our world is today shaken by the worrying rise of conflicts and the multiplication of hotbeds of tension, associated, alas, with a manifest institutional incapacity that paralyzes the effectiveness of the UN system.
This reality undermines the international community's trust in international law, enshrines double standards, and imposes the logic of force to the detriment of the values of justice, cooperation, and equality.
All these developments are, ultimately, merely new illustrations of the relevance of our repeated warnings and eloquent proof of the imperative need for the reform that we have never ceased to advocate, so that the Security Council may be an instrument at the service of peace for all and not a tool of hegemony and influence.
These challenges cannot be dissociated from the extremely complex situation our African continent is experiencing today, where security threats have taken on alarming proportions, accentuated by the intensification of foreign interference with divergent agendas, leading in their wake to an unprecedented decline in peace and stability on the continent.
Africa faces multiple intertwined crises, ranging from the spread of the scourges of terrorism and organized transnational crime and the proliferation of hotbeds of tension and conflicts, to the phenomenon of unconstitutional changes of government, with their accompanying instability and governance challenges.
In this perspective, while fully gauging the depth and gravity of these challenges, we are committed to making this conjuncture a lever to renew our determination and unite our wills.
Our efforts coincide with unprecedented international support for the unified African position, which compels us collectively to work resolutely to translate this support into an active international will enabling us to achieve the set objectives.
It goes without saying that the African continent should occupy its rightful place in the Security Council, given its geopolitical weight, its economic importance, and its civilizational contribution.
The realization of this objective is neither a favor nor a gift, but constitutes a historical right whose recognition has been long overdue and an injustice that must be repaired.
Our countries are today, more than ever, able to propose effective solutions and fully assume their responsibilities in establishing peace, especially since the majority of issues on the Security Council's agenda concern the security and stability of Africa.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our Committee has covered important stages in the realization of its objectives, the most important being the adoption, by our African organization, of an African model that faithfully embodies the just and legitimate demands of our continent and reflects with sincerity the common African position, knowing that African countries have always been the least represented in the category of non-permanent member states.
With the adoption of this model, it is incumbent upon us to demonstrate the highest degree of vigilance and prudence. While the essence of our model aligns directly with the common African position, the challenge lies in managing the phase following its adoption and its presentation within the framework of intergovernmental negotiations under the aegis of the UN.
In this regard, we must reaffirm strongly that intergovernmental negotiations, under the aegis of the General Assembly, must remain the sole legitimate framework for this process, while showing the greatest vigilance against any attempt aimed at hindering this approach or abandoning it, particularly with the rise of unilateralism within the international community, the decline in recourse to institutional action, and the continuous weakening of the UN organization.
To this end, I call upon all African brothers to intensify and mobilize the necessary efforts so that future negotiations are based on the 2015 framework, which constitutes a reference document reflecting the positions and proposals of approximately 120 UN Member States, including the unified African position, while facing attempts aimed at undermining and hindering the reform process or weakening positions and dividing their supporters.
We must, moreover, continue to unify our ranks and our voice on the international stage and commit to respecting the relevant decisions of the African Union and the African Group, while refraining from joining other interest blocs, so that the continent speaks with one voice until the requirements of the unified African position are satisfied.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In conclusion, and while reiterating my country's unwavering commitment to work collectively within the framework of the Committee of Ten and to defend the unified African position, as expressed in the Sirte Declaration and confirmed within the framework of the Ezulwini Consensus, we commit to relentlessly pursuing our efforts to carry the voice of Africa, respond to its legitimate demands, and put an end to the historical injustice of which it has been a victim.
We are convinced that our Summit will contribute to strengthening African unity, building a comprehensive vision, and finding collective solutions capable of consolidating security and peace on our continent and restoring trust in effective and balanced multilateralism at the international level.
I thank you for your attention."
