Africa Takes Centre Stage at the United Nations General Assembly

Every September, the streets of New York transform into a bustling global stage as thousands of world leaders, diplomats, investors, and activists descend on the city for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

This year, Africa is taking centre stage – quite literally. Former Cameroonian Prime Minister Philémon Yang is presiding over the 79th session under the theme “Unity and Diversity for Advancing Peace, Sustainable Development, and Human Dignity, Everywhere and for All.”

With Africa's strategic importance and potential being increasingly recognised, the UNGA agenda is packed with issues critical to the continent’s trade and investment future. Here are five critical topics that will take centre stage this week.

1.      Security Council Reform

A familiar yet urgent cry for reform has gained momentum in the months leading up to UNGA – the demand for Africa to hold a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Despite being home to over 18% of the world’s population, Africa remains sidelined in the world's most powerful peacekeeping body.

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has been a particularly influential force here, using his country’s current non-permanent seat on the Council to challenge the status quo, calling the existing structure outdated and unrepresentative.

While efforts for greater African representation have been around for decades, shifting global geopolitics might finally present an opportunity to break through. Securing a permanent seat, however, will require sustained diplomatic pressure in what is an infamously slow reform process. The momentum is palpable, but the challenge is to turn this growing support into concrete change.

2.      Strategic Minerals

Critical minerals will be another headline issue at UNGA – especially for Africa, which holds over 30% of the world’s known reserves. The green energy transition hinges on materials like copper, cobalt, nickel, and lithium, and Africa is sitting on a goldmine. Global revenues from these four minerals alone are projected to reach a staggering $16 trillion over the next 25 years.

But the trillion-dollar question remains: who will profit? Africa has long been the resource-rich continent where the wealth flows out faster than it comes in. Now, there is a growing realisation that the continent needs to shift from simply exporting raw materials to developing domestic industries capable of processing and manufacturing these resources. The UN might have a role to play here, with the Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals recently releasing a report to help frame discussions at UNGA, with a focus on fair trade, benefit-sharing, and responsible sourcing. Done right, this could boost Africa’s GDP by over 12% by 2050. But the real prize is not just in extraction – it’s in developing the capacity to refine and manufacture these resources domestically.

3.      Climate Finance and Energy Security

Alongside UNGA, New York will also host Climate Week, putting a spotlight on the climate crisis – an existential threat for Africa. The continent is home to 9 of the world’s 10 most climate-vulnerable countries but receives only a fraction of the climate finance it needs. Africa requires an estimated $277 billion a year to build climate resilience but is currently only receiving $30 billion.

However, Africa’s potential in renewable energy is undeniable. By 2040, an impressive 76% of its electricity needs could be met by renewables, with hydropower leading the charge. To this end, the Global Renewables Summit – also taking place during UNGA – will provide a key platform for African businesses and investors to engage with policymakers and push for greater clean energy development across the continent.

4.      Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence – and how to make sure it benefits Africa – will be another hot topic in New York. This March, the UN passed its first AI-related resolution, and by July, the US and China had jointly called for developing nations to have equal access to AI’s opportunities. At this year’s UNGA, AI will be everywhere, with no fewer than 65 side events dedicated to the topic – signalling just how critical it is to the global future.

For Africa, AI holds the potential to leapfrog traditional development barriers, particularly in sectors like healthcare and education. But the continent needs robust infrastructure, research capacity, and significant investment to make the most of these opportunities. Africa also must play an active role in shaping global AI governance, ensuring that its voice is heard not as a passive recipient, but as a key architect of AI’s future. The continent has already leapfrogged into the digital age with mobile technology—AI could be its next great leap forward.

5.      Diaspora Engagement

The African diaspora is sometimes described as the continent’s "sixth region" – and for good reason. From Nigeria’s plans for a $10 billion Diaspora Fund to the US President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement, the global African community is increasingly being recognised as a reservoir of talent, ideas, and investment potential.

On the sidelines of UNGA, Afreximbank will launch its Africa Diaspora Centre – a bold move to leverage the diaspora’s resources, skills, and networks to spur economic growth on the continent. For businesses and investors, the diaspora represents both a financial and intellectual goldmine. Strengthening ties with this community can catalyse innovation, boost investment, and deepen knowledge exchange.

As the international community gathers in New York for UNGA, Africa is at the centre of many of the discussions shaping the global future. From the push for Security Council reform and critical minerals to the climate crisis, AI, and the diaspora’s rising influence, the continent is no longer content to sit on the sidelines. UNGA presents an important opportunity for Africa to assert itself – not just as a recipient of global policies, but as a shaper of them.

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