Making Multilateralism Work for Young Africans: A Pan-African Vision

On 25 May, Africa marked the 60th Africa Day commemoration, which found me in Addis Ababa attending youth minister meetings at the African Union Commission.

Discussions centred on how to strengthen African governments to better serve the interests of young Africans in an increasingly polarised, constrained and integrated world; one in which climate change, migration, gender-based inequities, racism and human rights violations persist in varying degrees, and at the expense of collective progress.

At the recent 2023 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) High-Level Political Forum and 78th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York, world leaders deliberated on the efficacy of the global governance architecture, and called for action to “rebuild trust, reignite global solidarity and accelerate action towards peace, progress and sustainability for all”.

Globally, multilateralism has retreated as polarisation has increased along political, ideological, racial and religious lines, resulting in a rise in populism, isolationism, protectionism, and unilateralism.

We also see notable disparities in attaining SDGs in the Global South. This threatens to undermine especially the aspirations of a burgeoning youth population

The information age has brought existing inequities in our societies to the fore, enabling the creation of hope to the same extent it can create a heightened sense of injustice and impatience with governments on delivering development.

TIME TO RESET

Ahead of the 2024 Summit of the Future, to be co-chaired by Namibia and Germany, UN members have an opportunity to reflect on the post-SDG agenda and how to make the multilateral framework more effective and inclusive.

– Rebuilding Trust: There is a strong feeling among young Africans of an unwillingness by powerful countries to enforce decisions taken by multilateral institutions that seek to protect, defend or intervene in ongoing humanitarian crises such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.

This contradiction becomes more pronounced in regard to the war in Ukraine; those who call for the protection of a rules-based order are often the perpetrators of unsanctioned military actions in other nations.

Multilateral institutions can only regain the confidence of young Africans by demonstrating their commitment to inclusivity, justice and accountability.

– Equitable Representation: Africa is sovereign and must be treated as an equal.

For nearly 20 years, calls by African countries for the UN Security Council (UNSC) to be reformed have been ignored.

That no African country is among the UNSC’s five permanent members, each empowered to veto resolutions, epitomises exclusion.

Instead, a continent of 1,5 billion people – of whom around 60% are under 35 years old – must settle for rotating member seats.

It is unjust for African countries to participate in negotiations on their futures on such unequal terms.

– Equitable Flows Of Global Trade And Capital: As stated by president Hage Geingob at the UN summit: “With the onset of Covid-19, the number of people living in extreme poverty rose for the first time in a generation, demonstrating that at midpoint to the Global Goals, we face the stark reality that we will miss our goals and targets.”

The legacy of the slave trade, colonialism and apartheid are still felt psychosocially and socio-economically in Africa.

Moreover, terrifying gaps in income and wealth, a result of historic systemic exclusion and marginalisation, is a threat to global stability.

The structurally skewed and inequitable flow of global trade and capital, undermines accelerated development in the Global South, exacerbating inequalities.

Have colonial mindsets really changed altogether? Some countries now use preferential trade and biased financing instruments to repress Africa.

At times, global vaccine inequities during the Covid pandemic, referred to by president Geingob as “vaccine apartheid”, revealed an interest-driven international system.

A pan-African vision is based on solidarity and redress for historical wrongs.

PACESETTERS

There are rich experiences Africa can and does share with the world.

As a continent that has triumphed over the evils of colonialism and oppression, Africa has proved her ability to self-determine and to lead, even as many African governments consolidate democratic governance and advance socio-economic transformation for their citizens.

The fight against political and economic dominance and the pursuit of peace has rendered Africa a moral authority and leading voice for justice.

Africans are reconciliators.

Among others, Namibia and South Africa have shown the world how to promote unity in diversity and reconciliation.

It is time to reimagine multilateralism and redesign international institutions to create a more effective global system that translates into global solidarity, shared progress and prosperity and peace for all.

Leaving no one behind requires everyone to identify those most at risk of being left behind.

As we review multilateralism’s ability to deliver a more just and equitable world, we cannot do so at the exclusion and expense of Africa and the Global South.

In the words of president Geingob: “By holding hands, we have it within us to build the world we want. A world where no one should feel left out.”

• Daisry Obal is adviser to president Hage Geingob on Youth Matters and Enterprise Development in the Office of the President

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