Malawi
On Wednesday, President Lazarus Chakwera delivered a pre-recorded message at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in which he began by talking about the world the people of today are leaving behind for the children of tomorrow. He said that we are thus forced to pick between two choices: “a future of zero carbon emissions or a future of daily climate catastrophes that wipe out crops, homes, cities, and some nations.”
Chakwera further called for the equitable distribution of vaccines and resources, pointing to how one hemisphere is “hoarding life-saving technologies, medicines, and vaccines,” while the other is “robbed of its raw materials and left perishing.” Failure to do so, he said, would lead to a future of “oppressive government propped up by proxy wars between developed nations and enabled by a weak and undemocratic United Nations that serves the interests of the Security Council at the expense of its member states’ development and inclusion.”
The Malawian leader noted that the world is faced with four crises: the climate crisis, the COVID crisis, the sustainable development crisis, and the UN development crisis. He called on the world’s biggest polluters, most of which are developed and powerful nations, to “fulfil [their] pledge” on climate mitigation and adaptation, describing it as a “cleaning fee.”
Likewise, with the COVID crisis, he stressed the need for rich nations to “release the vaccines” to developing nations, noting that millions of vaccines in developed countries will soon expire. He also spoke out against vaccine nationalism, pointing to how some nations are administering booster shots while others have yet to administer first doses.
Chakwera then said the sustainable development crisis must be resolved by cancelling the debts of poor countries so as to allow them to focus on post-pandemic economic recovery.
Lastly, the Malawian president said the UN must uphold principles of democracy, accountability, transparency, and equity, which he is only possible through reform. To this end, Chakwera demanded two permanent seats for African countries and five non-permanent seats.
Djibouti
Ismaël Omar Guelleh delivered a pre-recorded message that began with a call for a “global vaccination plan to ensure that the current variants do not mutate.” He then said that the current pandemic has underscored the need for collective action. Guelleh pointed to drops in foreign direct investment, contractions of global trade, and increases in the price of container transport as reasons for greater focus to be placed on post-pandemic economic recovery.
He also said that there is a parallel need to address the issue of climate change, noting some concerning climatic events such as droughts, hurricanes, extreme temperature, flooding, locust invasions, and rising sea levels. Keeping this in mind, Guelleh said that the upcoming COP26 summit must be used to advance the transfer of technology and expertise, and the provision of “appropriate financing.”
Next, he said that efforts towards the reconciliation of ties with Eritrea regarding border demarcations and the return of 13 Djiboutian prisoners of war remain at a standstill, and urged Eritrea to return to the negotiation table and accept international mediation.
He then expressed concern about the crises in Somalia, Ethiopia, Yemen, and East Jerusalem, speaking in support of Saudi Arabia and the Palestinians.
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Togo
President Faure Gnassingbé also delivered a pre-recorded message. He began by calling for assistance in addressing the social and economic impact of the pandemic, which has increased the gap between developed and developing countries. However, he welcomed: the debt service suspension initiative by the G20 last year; the funding of African economies announced during a recent summit in France; the and pandemic assistance provided by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, GAVI, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the World Bank. Nevertheless, he said that there remains a need for a more equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
Gnassingbé also announced his government’s initiatives to ensure universal access to healthcare and education, facilitate gender equality, and increase public-private partnerships.
Next, he said that international contributions to the G5-Sahel and UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA must be increased to support regional security.
Guinea-Bissau
President Umaro Sissoco Embaló began his speech like all of his African counterparts by calling for vaccine equity. He also spoke about domestic initiatives his government has undertaken in cooperation with the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States such as peacebuilding and improving living standards. He thanked the UN for its efforts in Guinea-Bissau, after a UN peacekeeping mission was concluded in the country last year. Embaló’s government has now taken over the “main responsibilities of the state.”