African leaders has initiated the mid-year African Union summit, focusing on economic integration and urging international financial system reforms.
Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohamed, highlighted Africa’s disproportionate suffering amidst the ongoing global crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Unmet commitments by the international community to financing climate action and inadequate humanitarian responses, have further aggravated the obstacles to the efforts made by Africa and its leaders, to implement Agenda 2063,” she said.
Amina Mohamed stated that the UN supports African leaders’ plea for more resources allocated to their economies through the International Monetary Fund (IMF), an institution criticized by various African leaders.
Kenyan President, William Ruto, alongside other leaders, called for reforms within the World Bank and IMF. He emphasized the unfairness of the global debt system, which burdens African countries with payment obligations eight times higher than wealthier nations due to perceived risks.
”We are not asking for charity. We must have equality in the international system,” Ruto said.