As world leaders met at the U.N. General Assembly in New York, a sharp contrast emerged between some diplomatic gains on climate and development versus the escalating humanitarian crises across Africa.
A U.N. Human Rights Council panel of independent experts on racial justice and equality in law enforcement reported on Thursday that systemic racism against Africans and people of African descent is "pervasive and deeply entrenched" in criminal justice systems globally.
Its report from Geneva cited the overrepresentation of people of African descent in prisons as a direct result of these biases, which are rooted in the legacies of colonialism and enslavement. The report is a grim counterpoint to more optimistic news of economic progress on the continent.
Refugees International warned of Sudan's "imminently escalating atrocities and spreading famine" in El Fasher, where 260,000 civilians are trapped.
A recent drone strike on a mosque killed at least 70 people, and the organization said the situation is compounded by a major health crisis, with over 113,000 cases of cholera and 3,000 deaths nationwide.
On Thursday morning, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called for urgent funding for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, revealing that the mission is at risk due to a severe financial shortfall.
Speaking at a high-level meeting, Guterres said that with only three months left in 2025, just $24.6 million has been pledged against the $196 million required. He also reported that soldiers have been deployed for 15 months without pay, which he called "unacceptable."
Guterres appealed to donors and international financial institutions to "close the 2025 gap now" and ensure predictable funding to prevent the unravelling of progress in Somalia.
Ambitious climate and financial reforms gain momentum
Amid the crises, a wave of new commitments is fueling optimism for climate action. At a climate summit convened by Guterres and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, nearly 100 nations announced new climate targets ahead of COP30 to be held at Belém, Brazil in November.
Notably, major economies like China and Nigeria unveiled new economy-wide emissions reduction plans.
The push for climate action is linked to calls for financial justice. Guterres, a former prime minister of Portugal, emphasized that climate justice requires reforming the international financial architecture, advocating for debt relief and increased lending capacity for developing nations.
Those calls were echoed by U.N. Deputy Secretary-Secretary Amina J. Mohammed, a former environment minister for Nigeria, who highlighted the need for a fairer financial system.
The discussions align with remarks from South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, who used his address to the U.N. to call for urgent reforms to tackle global debt and wealth inequality.
As the host of the 2025 G-20 presidency, South Africa is championing a new committee of experts to tax the super rich.
Tech and energy initiatives drive economic progress
Beyond the halls of the United Nations, leaders and the private sector are moving forward with ambitious development plans.
World Bank Group and African Development Bank Group announced an expanded partnership to bring 300 million Africans electricity by 2030.
Seventeen additional nations, including Lesotho, Ghana, and Kenya, have committed to plans and reforms to expand power access. The initiative has already connected 30 million people.
In the technology sector, Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa announced steps to establish Africa's first network of AI factories, powered by NVIDIA GPUs, expected by late 2026. It complemented Meta's announcement of investment opportunities in Africa’s digital ecosystem.
On a local level, the African Development Bank Group approved a new $209 million plan for Lesotho to boost its economy. The plan aims to support women- and youth-led enterprises and equip 20,000 young people with digital skills.
Additionally, the Merck Foundation held its First Ladies Initiative Summit in Libreville, Gabon, which focuses on providing scholarships for doctors to improve healthcare and raising awareness of social issues.
