General Assembly Delegates Call Africa’s Industrialization a ‘Matter of Justice’, Offering Proposals for UN Reform, Stronger Mandate-Review Capabilities
The General Assembly held a joint debate today on United Nations reform and Africa’s development, with delegates urging "comprehensive and coherent reform" of the Organization and backing a fourth Industrial Development Decade for Africa to drive the continent’s "transformation, equity and global solidarity".
The 193-member Assembly had before it the report of the Secretary-General on "Mandate implementation review" (document A/80/318) under the UN80 Initiative. Additionally, the Assembly had before it the report of the Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) on progress made in the implementation of the third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (2016–2025) contained the Secretary-General’s note (document A/80/271), as well as the report of the Secretary-General on "Implementation of the resolution on the establishment of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic" (document A/80/359).
Africa’s Development
First, the Assembly took up Africa’s development with the delegate from Guinea-Bissau, in his capacity as Chair of the African Group for October, stressing that the third Industrial Development Decade for Africa had achieved tangible progress in agribusiness, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, digitalization and special economic zones. He said that the Group recognized UNIDO for its leadership in coordinating the third Decade in collaboration with the African Union, regional bodies, development banks and the private sector. At the same time, challenges persist, including the low share of manufacturing in Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP), which stood at only 10.3 per cent in 2024, limited value addition in extractive industries and insufficient finance and technology for small and medium-sized enterprises.
As the third Decade concludes, the African Union has decided to call for a fourth Decade, aimed at consolidating achievements and accelerating structural transformation in line with Agenda 2063, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Pact for the Future, he said. The fourth Decade should prioritize integrated infrastructure, green manufacturing, renewable energy, digital transformation, youth and women’s empowerment, and regional integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area. "With vision, political will and international solidarity, the forthcoming fourth Industrial Development Decade for Africa can unlock the continent’s full industrial potential and contribute decisively to a more equitable, balanced and inclusive multilateral system," he emphasized.
Venezuela’s delegate, speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations, stressed that "Africa’s industrial development is not simply an economic issue". It is a matter of justice, sovereignty and dignity, he said. Commending progress in agribusiness value chains, digital technologies and youth-led enterprises, he nevertheless stressed that Africa’s manufacturing share is "too low", millions lack reliable energy and trade costs remain "among the highest in the world". He also categorically rejected unilateral coercive measures, describing them as "illegal, contrary to the Charter of the United Nations and profoundly harmful", and reaffirmed the sovereign right of African States "to decide how best to use their natural resources, how to shape their energy policies and how to pursue its development model; free from interference, pressure, or conditions being imposed upon them, conditions rooted in neocolonial aims".
Backing African Union priorities such as "Agenda 2063" and the "Kampala Declaration on Agrifood Systems", the Group further welcomed the African Union’s 2025 theme on reparations as a "moral and historical imperative". He stressed that, while "South-South and triangular cooperation have already proven their value", North-South commitments on official development assistance (ODA), debt relief and technology transfer "must be honoured, not postponed or diluted". Endorsing a fourth Industrial Development Decade for Africa, he said that Africa’s industrialization is "a global necessity for establishing a fairer and more multipolar world for all".
Other African nations also pointed to their successes and challenges, including Angola’s delegate, who noted the continent’s weak integration of regional value chains, limited technological capacity and the lack of adequate financing for industrialization. "The business remains unfinished," he stressed, explaining how Angola has been implementing programmes for economic diversification and export promotion, while investing in strategic projects. Moreover, Angola will host the Summit on infrastructure financing as a driver for Africa's development from 28 to 31 October in Luanda. The event will serve as an opportunity to align strategic investment with the objectives of continental industrialization, he said.
The representative of Zimbabwe highlighted that African Export-Import Bank funding has helped smallholder farmers in his country integrate into value chains, boosting productivity and livelihoods. She cited national gains in renewable energy through initiatives such as the Energy Efficiency for Sustainable Livelihoods in Africa Programme and the Renewable Energy Fund, reflecting effective United Nations–private sector collaboration. "Despite significant progress, challenges continue to limit industrial transformation in Africa," she said, noting that high trade costs, limited energy access and continued export of raw materials still hinder Africa’s industrial transformation.
"Industrialization is a cornerstone for sustainable development" and job creation on the continent, said Egypt’s speaker. Citing the report’s findings that industry accounted for only "10 per cent of GDP in 2024", he underscored the urgent need to "build capacities and ensure access to funding", particularly beyond limited sectors such as textiles and clothing. He also highlighted the role of "infrastructure, digitization and access to energy" to boost competitiveness, welcoming progress in solar power, skills and entrepreneurship, as well as the opportunities of the African Continental Free Trade Area to strengthen value chains and intra-African trade. He expressed support for a fourth Industrial Development Decade for Africa focused on green development, innovation, women’s empowerment and job opportunities for youth.
The delegate from the Russian Federation, highlighting that GDP growth rates across Africa were above global averages in 2024 and 2025, stressed the importance of building on these gains. "The exploitation of African countries is continuing" in the form of "unequal trade, economic agreements, dependence on commodities and debt distress", he said, pointing to the example of the global coffee market valued at 460ドル billion, where "Africa provides the raw materials yet receives only 10 per cent of the profits". He reaffirmed support for Africa’s vision to become "a standalone, independent, influential centre of global development". With Africa’s bilateral trade increasing to reach 27ドル.7 billion", he noted that Russian Federation companies are readily engaged across sectors including oil and gas, atomic energy, digital industrialization, agriculture and pharmaceuticals. "Industrial development in Africa is inextricably tied with mutually beneficial partnerships," he concluded.
UN80 Mandate Review
Speakers also discussed the UN’s mandate review with the representative of Belize, on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), stressing that "mandates are the prerogative of Member States" and their ownership must remain central to the reform process. She emphasized the need for predictable and sustainable financing and cautioned that efficiency must not come at the expense of substance, equity or the priorities of small island developing States. CARICOM remains open to reforms that strengthen the Organization’s effectiveness, provided they do not dilute key commitments to development and resilience. CARICOM looks forward to regular updates from the Secretary-General and to the coordinated delivery of all three UN80 workstreams, she said, reaffirming its commitment to building a more responsive, efficient and future-ready United Nations as the Organization marks its eightieth anniversary.
"Reform is our collective chance to restore purpose, to lift those left behind and bring fairness to those who have gained least", said the representative of Maldives. "It must not become a contest of survival", she said, underscoring that "true reform strengthens the vulnerable and renews faith in inclusive multilateralism". Noting that "the United Nations urgently needs comprehensive and coherent reform to stay relevant, deliver on its mandates and meet expectations of our peoples", she reaffirmed her Government’s call for reforms that are "Member State-led, equitable and focused on real implementation". Highlighting that "for [small island developing States] like Maldives, a sustained and visible UN presence is not bureaucracy, it is a lifeline for sustainable development", she called for reforms that "reinforce that presence, not diminish it", with "sufficient capacity and secure, flexible financing".
The representative of South Africa cited Assembly resolution 77/335, calling for the expanded use of digital repositories to strengthen institutional memory and avoid costly duplication. He urged its prompt implementation to establish an operational digital mandate registry and stressed that mandates must be linked to adequate financial and human resources from the outset to ensure effectiveness. Given the Organization’s financial constraints, he supported refraining from creating new mandates without corresponding resources and voiced concern that the proliferation of meetings and new bodies has increased demand for limited support services.
The review process, he said, should further explore the use of new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to improve working methods. He emphasized the need to end siloed approaches across the UN system and ensure effective coordination in programme and budget planning. The resident coordinator system, he added, must demonstrate value for money. Member States should also honour their assessed contributions in full and on time. Noting the limited mechanisms to assess the UN’s global impact, he called for redirecting resources towards strengthening mandate-review capabilities, stressing that the expertise gained through mandate implementation has a profound impact on development and should be better measured and reported.
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