African Union Commission (AU) Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf met United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in Addis Ababa as the two leaders pushed for closer cooperation on peace and security, industrialization and Africa’s long-standing demand for permanent representation on the UN Security Council.
The talks took place at the AU headquarters on the sidelines of the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, according to a statement from the AU Commission.
Youssouf welcomed Guterres and praised what he described as the UN chief’s continued commitment to Africa and multilateralism at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty. The AU-UN partnership remains central to global governance and a key tool for advancing peace, security and sustainable development, he said.
The meeting focused on regional security challenges, development priorities and inclusive economic transformation. Both leaders said Africa’s industrialization is essential to the continent’s growth ambitions, job creation for its young population and long-term stability, and reaffirmed support for structural transformation and value addition under the AU’s Agenda 2063 framework.
Guterres commended Youssouf’s leadership in amplifying the AU’s voice in global diplomacy and cited Africa’s role in multilateral reform efforts, including discussions around the UN’s “Pact for the Future,” which aims to update international cooperation for emerging global risks.
The two leaders also reiterated calls for UN Security Council reform, describing permanent African representation as an “urgent and historic imperative” consistent with the Common African Position, the AU said.
Guterres warned of risks from the concentration of capital flows into emerging economies at the expense of developing regions, including Africa. He and Youssouf agreed to intensify joint advocacy with international financial institutions and global financial actors to improve access to development finance, advance debt sustainability measures and push reforms to the international financial architecture.
