By L J Kingah
As world leaders arrive at United Nations Headquarters in New York for the 81st General Assembly, Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a clear call for unity.
“My message to them is clear: Come together for peace, for dignity, for justice and for humanity. Only with international cooperation can we build a better world – and we should never give up on fighting for it,” Guterres said in a recent address.
The high-level General Debate opens on Tuesday, September 22, at a time of deep global division, escalating conflicts, climate shocks and a financing crisis for developing nations.
For Africa, Guterres’ call for unity resonates strongly, but also raises a critical question: unity on whose terms?
The 80th session of the General Assembly, which closed on September 8 under President Annalena Baerbock, was held under the theme “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.” That milestone anniversary forced a difficult reflection – without deep reforms, the multilateral system risks erosion.
African leaders are heading to New York with a unified demand for reform. At the center is the long-standing call for a permanent African presence on the UN Security Council, fairer financing for sustainable development, and climate justice.
The business case for Africa is also expected to dominate side events. With debt distress rising across the continent, Africa’s push for reform of the international financial architecture is no longer just political – it is about business survival, investment and sustaining development projects.
For Cameroon, UNGA 81 comes at a crucial moment. The country continues to face humanitarian challenges in the Far North and the North-West and South-West regions, where according to UNICEF, at least 223,749 children remain out of school and 2,463 schools are non-operational.
Cameroon’s engagement in New York will therefore be watched closely, both for its diplomatic positions on peace and security, and for its ability to attract corporate partnerships and investment that can sustain education, health and entrepreneurship back home.
As the iconic green marble podium awaits presidents and prime ministers from September 22 to 29, Guterres’ words set the tone: international cooperation remains the only path forward. For Africa, the message is simple – come together, but come with reforms that make unity meaningful.
