Benin

Mr. President of the General Assembly, Ladies and Gentlemen Heads of State, Government and Delegation, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with immense honor that I stand before you today, at this emblematic podium of the United Nations, on behalf of His Excellency President Patrice Talon, President of the Republic of Benin.

Allow me, from the very outset of these remarks, to reaffirm the unwavering attachment of the Beninese people to democracy, to political stability, and to the principle of the peaceful conquest of power. Since the historic National Conference of the Active Forces of the Nation in February 1990, Benin has chosen the path of democracy, and under the leadership of President Patrice Talon, we have managed to preserve and strengthen our institutions. Our Defense and Security Forces, with courage and a sense of republican duty, continue to protect our territory and our institutions. Any attempt at destabilization, whether internal or external, will be defeated. Our march toward development is now irreversible.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, the world is confronted with growing tensions, and uncertainty has become a constant feature of our era. Every day we witness increasing polarization, with crises everywhere undermining global cohesion and jeopardizing the future of humanity. Whether in the Sahel, in Sudan, in Ukraine, in the South China Sea, or in the Middle East, the conflicts that arise endanger global peace and stability. These tensions bring only suffering and desolation, causing waves of poverty that affect the most fragile economies and worsen the vulnerability of populations.

Although Africa is often far removed from the origin of these crises, it remains no less profoundly affected by them. The Sahel region, in particular, is today the theater of growing tensions, exacerbated by decisions taken without the consent of Africans. This instability seriously jeopardizes our sustainable development. Even more worrying, certain external forces seek to import their geopolitical rivalries into our region.

Benin firmly denounces any attempt to turn the Sahel into a new epicenter of geopolitical struggles. Such interference feeds the breeding ground of terrorism, an abomination that we condemn without reservation. Whether in Africa or elsewhere, terrorism is unacceptable. No cause can justify the terror, the suffering, and the destruction it causes.

Today, we reaffirm our commitment to African unity. Particularly in West Africa, we bear a historic responsibility to preserve the age-old fraternity that unites our peoples. Benin is ready to play its part in this battle against terrorism and for development. Our unity of action is essential, regardless of the organizations to which we choose to belong.

It is also this commitment to non-violence that has led us to condemn the war in Ukraine, the terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023 in the Middle East, and all the violence that daily brings mourning to our brothers and sisters in the Sahel. We call upon the international community to intensify its efforts to restore stability through dialogue, whether in the Middle East, where the two-State solution remains the only viable path, or in Ukraine, in the Great Lakes region, in Sudan, in Libya, or indeed in the sister Republic of Haiti.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Despite these hotbeds of tension, we must never lose sight of another major challenge threatening the future of our world: poverty in all its forms.

Five years before the 2030 deadline, it is painfully clear that we will not achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. But we must not abandon the fight. The struggle against poverty remains one of the greatest challenges of our time. Without this struggle, there will be neither true peace nor lasting stability.

Africa, Ladies and Gentlemen, is the future of the world. In a few decades, our continent will be home to a quarter of humanity. Our youth, bearers of immense creativity, and our natural resources make Africa an indispensable asset for the future of the planet. But for this potential to become reality, we must eradicate poverty on our continent.

There is an urgent need to act, for every year of delay jeopardizes this future. In twenty-five years, when most of our countries will have existed for a century, will we still be debating access to clean water, electricity, health, and education? Or will we finally have crossed the threshold that allows every African to live in dignity? That is the essential question we must ask ourselves. The time for action has come.

Since 2016, Benin has embarked on the path of progress under the leadership of President Patrice Talon. We have taken our destiny into our own hands and initiated major reforms, whether in education, health, or infrastructure. Today, we are engaged on a trajectory of transformation and development. The world must recognize these efforts and support the African nations working for their future.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

For Africa to take flight, it must also reconcile itself with its history and its deep identity. Just as it is impossible to understand Europe without the influence of the Christian Church, or to understand the Middle East without examining Islam, it is equally impossible to grasp the essence of Africa without fully embracing its beliefs, its traditions, and its civilization.

It is in this spirit that Benin, the motherland of Vodun culture, has taken the initiative to correct negative perceptions of this culture. We wish to reveal to the world the richness of our civilization. By knowing and respecting our history, our beliefs, and our culture, the world will be able to understand who we are and why Africa is essential to global balance and development.

But respect for Africa does not stop at the recognition of its past. It also requires a modern Pan-Africanism, oriented toward action—a Pan-Africanism committed to reducing poverty, to building a prosperous continent. This Pan-Africanism must translate into concrete actions. How can we advocate African unity when it is easier for a European to travel to Africa than for an African himself?

Benin has made a bold choice by abolishing visas for all African nationals. This gesture is not merely symbolic; it reflects our commitment to building an Africa where every African can feel at home, anywhere on the continent.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

More than ever, respect for Africa also requires recognition of its children scattered throughout the world. Our brothers and sisters of the diaspora, forcibly uprooted during the dark hours of the transatlantic slave trade, must reclaim their place within the African community. It is time to heal these wounds, to recreate that sacred bond with those who, though physically distant, carry Africa in their hearts.

Afro-descendants are not merely distant members of our family. They are our children, our brothers, our sisters. They embody an essential part of our collective identity. In recognizing their right to return, we say to them: "You have never ceased to belong to this land. Africa is your home, and we await you with open arms."

2024 marks the end of the International Decade for People of African Descent. On this occasion, Benin has taken a historic step by adopting a law granting Beninese nationality to all Afro-descendants who wish to acquire it. This act is far more than a mere symbolic gesture: it is an invitation to a shared future, a resounding call to unity and solidarity. Together, Africans of the continent and of the diaspora, we shall rise to tomorrow's challenges. Together, we shall build a strong, prosperous, and respected Africa.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Benin is ready. Ready to chart the path toward a united, dynamic Africa, open to the world. Africa's century is within reach. It depends on our ability to seize this opportunity, to build an Africa where every citizen, whether born on the continent or part of the diaspora, plays a key role in our common renaissance.

Thank you.