In Senegal, Antonio Guterres worries about the consequences for Africa of the war in Ukraine
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres received by Macky Sall in Dakar, May 1, 2022. AFP - JOHN WESSELS
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The Secretary General of the United Nations began his tour of West Africa in Senegal on Sunday May 1. After an internal meeting, he visited the United Nations city under construction about thirty kilometers from Dakar, where he is also passed through the vaccine manufacturing plant of the Pasteur Institute.
He closed the day with a statement with President Macky Sall, who is also the current Chairman of the African Union.
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With our correspondent in Dakar,
Théa Ollivier
The security situation in Africa and the Sahel was the first subject of common interest addressed by Macky Sall, who noted the resurgence of coups in the region, referring without naming them to Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso.
Antonio Guterres for his part replied that they had agreed on "
the importance of continuing the dialogue with the de facto authorities
[of the three countries]
in order to establish the return to constitutional order as soon as possible
".
He also recalled his attachment "
to robust African peace and counter-terrorism operations implemented by the African Union and supported by the United Nations
".
Antonio Guterres on Sahel issues
“Triple Crisis”
In a context of international crisis, the war in Ukraine was obviously one of the subjects of discussion.
For his part, Macky Sall listed the negative consequences in Africa: "
We have tensions over the supply of petroleum products, there is an inflationary surge and there are above all threats of famine, because fertilizers come also from the same region without having access to fertilizers.
Obviously, the harvests will be bad harvests, which will lead to situations of famine.
»
Antonio Guterres worried that the war "
aggravates a triple crisis: food, energy and financial
" in Africa.
“
We must ensure a steady flow of food and energy into open markets by lifting all unnecessary export restrictions and controlling food prices.
»
Antonio Guterres then assured that a flow of food and energy must be guaranteed by lifting all unnecessary export restrictions.
The head of the UN also urged international financial institutions to "
put in place [...] debt relief measures
", "
so that governments can avoid payment default and invest in safety nets. social security and sustainable development for their populations
”.
The UN Secretary General calls again for a reform of the global financial system which “
is morally bankrupt
” according to him.
The climate emergency and the energy transition were also discussed while African countries are "
often the first victims
" of global warming for which they are "
not responsible
", recalled Antonio Guterres.
It was the first visit by a UN secretary-general since 2008.
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Senegal
Antonio Guterres
Climate
Ukraine
Economic crisis
Food
Oil