Guinea-Bissau

Madam President,

Distinguished Heads of State and Government,

Mr. Secretary-General,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Allow me to begin by congratulating Mrs. Annalena Baerbock on her election as President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. I thank the outgoing President, Mr. Philemon Yang, for his service to the international community.

To Secretary-General António Guterres, I wish to reaffirm Guinea-Bissau's full support for his tireless efforts in favor of world peace, international cooperation, multilateralism, and sustainable development.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Eighty years ago, the founders of the United Nations pledged "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war." That promise, unfortunately, has not yet been fully fulfilled.

Yet, this commitment — undertaken by each Member State upon joining the UN Charter — remains valid and continues to be honored through the dedication of every UN peacekeeper and every humanitarian worker, who often make the difference between life and death in conflict zones or following natural disasters. UN agencies, such as WHO, UNESCO, UNICEF, FAO, WFP, UNHCR and UNDP, among others, provide treatment, education, vaccines, food and protect, every day, millions of human beings, and contribute to the fight against poverty and discrimination against women and girls, all over the world.

The United Nations remains relevant, especially in these times of deep global uncertainty and crisis. It continues to be the only forum where all nations — large and small — have a seat and a voice.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

We live in a world confronted by multiple crises.

We are witnessing what Secretary-General António Guterres has called "polycrisis." Conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and other regions persist.

Socioeconomic inequalities, environmental shocks, political instability, and humanitarian emergencies disproportionately affect developing countries, with the greatest impact on small island developing states.

Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has slowed significantly or even stalled. The sovereign debt burden of poor countries is increasing, while development assistance is declining.

Guinea-Bissau welcomes the "UN80 Initiative," and we hope it will contribute to strengthening the Organization — especially in promoting peace, international security, and the achievement of the SDGs.

The "Pact for the Future" offers a roadmap and an action plan that must not remain on paper.

Madam President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Last July, Guinea-Bissau hosted the 15th Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP). I have taken on the Presidency of the CPLP for the 2025–2027 term.

The CPLP places high importance on its cooperation with the United Nations and its specialized agencies. During our term, we will continue to work with all partners and multilateral organizations toward the implementation of global commitments — especially concerning the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Third UN Ocean Conference, and the Fourth UN Conference on Financing for Development, held last June-July in Seville.

We are convinced that two major international meetings scheduled for November — namely, COP30 in Belém, Brazil, and the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar — will serve as key platforms and opportunities to strengthen our cooperation and to advance our shared goals.

Madam President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Guinea-Bissau is scheduled to hold presidential and legislative elections on 23 November this year.

All necessary conditions are being put in place to ensure that these elections are held peacefully, freely, transparently, and credibly.

Over the past five years, I have prioritized dialogue, inclusion, political stability, and the consolidation of the Democratic Rule of Law.

I am confident that these upcoming elections will reaffirm the irreversible nature of citizenship and democratic values in Guinea-Bissau.

Madam President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Allow me to conclude:

In an increasingly interdependent world, we need — now more than ever — a world order grounded in the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, in respect for international law, and in peaceful coexistence.

In this regard, Guinea-Bissau reiterates our call for an end to the economic, commercial, and financial embargo and other forms of restrictions imposed on Cuba.

Eighty years after the creation of the United Nations, the world has changed.

We are no longer just the 51 countries who signed the UN Charter in 1945.

Today, the United Nations is all of us: the 193 Member States, plus observer states, NGOs, civil society organizations, and other actors represented in this great Assembly Hall.

To meet the challenges of the 21st century, the UN must undertake urgent reforms:

• Reforms that reflect today's geopolitical realities and global power balances;
• Reforms that expand and democratize the Security Council;
• Reforms that provide a place and a voice to the Global South;
• Reforms that restore confidence in multilateralism and international cooperation.

The UN continues to be a unique multilateral space where dialogue is still possible, even when diplomacy and good offices fail elsewhere and in other circumstances.

The legitimacy, strength, and future of the UN lie in the inclusion and full participation of all of us in deliberations and decision-making.

Its core ideals — peace, dignity, equality, poverty eradication, cooperation, and peaceful resolution of conflicts — remain alive, and continue to inspire the purposes of the international community and the march of Humanity.

Thank you very much.