Togo

Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen Heads of State and Government, Mr. Secretary-General of the United Nations, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The history of the United Nations is one of trust in collective responses to the most serious crises. But each of us can clearly see that we are today at a crossroads:

• on the one hand, our multilateral model and our aging institutions are no longer able to face new challenges, which are – let us admit it – of unprecedented complexity; • on the other hand, our discussions as well as our multilateral commitments of recent years too often remain dead letters.

This is why there are real reasons to be concerned when we look to the future.

• Concerned for the future of our planet, which is beset by complex crises. • Concerned for the future of our youth given the challenges they are inheriting (and I am thinking of course first of the environmental challenges). • Concerned, finally, for the future of our institutions, which have not adapted to contemporary realities, and which no longer fulfill their promises.

We have no choice: we cannot persist in systems that struggle to keep their promises, and that no longer reflect the realities of the world. We must commit to a profound transformation. This is why I stand before you today with a conviction and a clear vision for the future:

• my conviction is that another path is possible. It is a path where international cooperation is revitalized, becoming more inclusive and more respectful; • my vision is that of an Africa that fully takes on its role as a strategic partner in building new rules of planetary governance.

My first observation is that my country, Togo, looks to the future with hope and determination.

In Togo, we are working towards development that must be sustainable, but also equitable and inclusive. To achieve this, we know that we must build a strong, visionary and protective State. We are doing this as a nation, because it is our responsibility towards current and future generations.

• This requires massive investments in our education and health systems. • This requires reducing the digital divide. • This also requires our commitment to the ecological transition as well as our action in favor of gender equality.

My second observation is that looking towards the future today means looking towards Africa.

Our continent is no longer merely a developing region; it is quite simply the next engine of global growth.

• For it is in Africa that the world's youth is found, and will continue to be found for a long time to come. It is there that we will find the strongest development potential for emerging markets linked to technological innovation and entrepreneurship. • It is notably in Africa that the green and blue economy offers considerable opportunities for sustainable development.

Our continent is rich in natural resources. Properly harnessed, they can transform Africa into a global hub for clean and renewable energy.

• It is also there that we must experiment with the new partnership models we need, particularly between the private and public sectors.

My third observation that I would like to make is that responding to the challenges of our time requires effective multilateral cooperation.

Food, security and environmental challenges exceed what any single country is capable of managing effectively on its own. Moreover, these are fundamentally asymmetric crises. These are crises that quickly and severely impact regions of the world that are not directly responsible for their causes. This is why I reiterate here my deep conviction:

• first, in the face of these global threats, there is no better future for current and future generations except through the collective and coordinated action of our States;
• and, second, this collective action must be carried out within renewed global political frameworks.

• This is true, in particular, for our efforts on climate adaptation and resilience.

Africa is one of the regions most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. And this, even though we contribute the least to greenhouse gas emissions.

The deleterious effects of climate change in Africa in terms of food security and its migratory consequences can no longer be underestimated. If we do not take heed, the environmental issue will give rise to great waves of migration towards the North, which – obviously – makes it a shared subject.

• But this need for collective action is also true for the challenge of peace and security.

And this challenge, too, can no longer be the burden of Africans alone.

In West Africa, we face the persistent threats of terrorism. In my view, the response rests on a combination of inclusive dialogue, security reforms and economic development initiatives to eradicate the root causes of violence.

But we will not resolve all these challenges alone. Multilateral cooperation is necessary to face this collective threat.

We all know it; development, climate transition and security have become subjects that must be addressed multilaterally. But for this, we must first reinvent our model of international cooperation.

And this brings me to my final observation.

There will be no strengthened international cooperation without a new partnership model, one that is more equitable and more respectful of African States.

We have an urgent need to reinvent the model of multilateralism in order to rebalance efforts in international cooperation. In this context, our continent, Africa, deserves particular attention.

• First of all, we need greater respect and dignity for African States on the international stage.

It is time to recognize that we are strategic actors in our own right, capable of contributing significantly to global efforts for peace, sustainable development and human dignity.

Respect for human dignity is not merely a principle that must guide all of our daily actions within our borders.

Respect and dignity for our peoples must be recognized through their representation and, above all, through the importance given to their voice, which must be expressed and respected in international fora.

• Next, we need a new model of international cooperation that relies more broadly on localization. "Universal" solutions imposed from outside can, it is true, have some merits, but they have only very partially proven themselves.

Despite efforts in recent years, international aid too often remains disconnected from the needs and capacities to act of the populations who benefit from it. Localization must be a deep commitment to recognizing local expertise by enabling States to play their role in defining priorities and implementing programs.

Togo is resolved to be a leading actor in this transformation. I call upon all international actors to support more equitable and respectful cooperation.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Africa is ready; it is ready to play its rightful role on the international stage.

But it aspires to be respected, listened to and supported in its efforts on an equitable basis.

Together, let us work to build a world where every nation, every individual, can live with dignity, in harmony with others and with our planet.

Thank you.