African leaders displayed notable boldness in their addresses at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) in September 2025, delivering unified calls for UN reform, greater equity, justice, and Africa's inclusion in global decision-making. They criticized systemic inequalities, the UN's outdated structures, and the marginalization of the continent's 1.4 billion people, emphasizing that without change, the UN risks irrelevance.
First, Kenyan President William Ruto delivered a fiery speech demanding two permanent seats for Africa on the UN Security Council with veto power, plus two non-permanent seats.
He asserted, "You cannot claim to be the United Nations while disregarding the voice of 54 nations. It is not possible," and stressed that reforming the Security Council is "not a favour to Africa" but a necessity for global legitimacy.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was equally forthright, criticizing skyrocketing global military spending amid unmet development promises, stating,
"We are building weapons, when we should be building social infrastructure."
He condemned violations of international law in conflicts like Gaza referring to a UN inquiry finding Israel committing genocide—and called for an end to the U.S. embargo on Cuba, while pushing for reforms to international financial institutions and the UN Security Council to make them more representative and democratic.
Botswana's President Duma Gideon Boko boldly declared, "Africa’s voice is not heard," while advocating for a permanent Security Council seat and partnerships in renewable energy.
Ethiopia's President Taye Atskeselassie Amde criticized UN "double standards" and called for debt cancellation, insisting, "There is no shortcut or half-solution to this longstanding pursuit for justice."
Guinea-Bissau's President Úmaro Sissoco Embaló demanded an expanded, democratized Security Council including the Global South, emphasizing that the UN's legitimacy depends on full inclusion.
Ghana's former President John Dramani Mahama was noted for a resilient delivery on Africa's comeback potential and an iconic description of the Isreal activity in Palestine.
If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably a duck
African leaders refused to be passive, vowed to defend Africa's interests, reechoed similar dilemmas amid ongoing global crises.
