United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres commended Egypt for hosting the Aswan Forum for Peace and Sustainable Development.
This came in the Secretary-General’s message to the delegations participating in the forum, which was distributed by the United Nations Information Centre in Cairo to newspapers and media outlets. A copy of the message was obtained by a correspondent for Diplomacy magazine.
The fifth edition of the Aswan Forum, currently being held in the southern Egyptian city of Aswan, provides a high-level platform to contribute to charting Africa’s path in a complex environment. The forum also addresses ways to enable the continent to meet challenges by enhancing regional resilience and integration, and supporting African solutions that embody the continent’s aspirations for peace, development, and prosperity.
Below is the text of the Secretary-General’s message:
Excellencies,
Distinguished participants,
I am pleased to extend my warm greetings to this Fifth Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development.
I commend Egypt for hosting this important gathering.
The Aswan Forum is a vital space for strengthening partnerships, advancing peace, and driving transformative change.
As your theme rightly puts it — we are a world in flux, and Africa is a continent in motion.
It is navigating profound challenges, seizing opportunities, and offering solutions that benefit not only the continent, but our world.
Africa’s leadership, resilience, and vision are more vital than ever as we work to shape a future of peace, security, and sustainable development.
I commend your focus on African-led solutions, inclusive dialogue, and the empowerment of youth and women.
Together, we must address interconnected challenges – peace and mediation, regional integration, economic transformation, the green transition, public health, the promise and risks of artificial intelligence, and more.
And let’s keep working to strengthen multilateralism for the future.
That includes ensuring African countries have stronger representation in global institutions.
Through reform of the international financial architecture – and reform of the UN Security Council.
Africa’s permanent representation is long overdue.
Dear friends,
Let’s keep joining forces to realize the promise of the 2030 Agenda and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
And let us seize this moment to build bridges, foster dialogue, and deliver results for people and planet.
You have my full support and best wishes for a successful Forum.
Thank you.
