Your Excellency Philemon Yang, President of the 79th General
Assembly.
Your Excellency Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United
Nations;
Excellencies Heads of Delegations.
Ladies and Gentlemen.
As we conclude the 79" United Nations General Assembly debate, unity
has been a central theme throughout this year’s High-Level Week, and
rightfully so.
Rwanda is of the view that in today’s increasingly fractured world, unity
is central to addressing pressing issues, most of which transcend
borders and national interests.
Contemporary challenges require ambitious and coordinated action
that paves the way for equal access to opportunity, ensures sustainable
development, and contributes to global peace and security.
As we approach the second half of this decade, solidarity is key to
achieving targets under Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable
Development Goals.
Rwanda strongly endorses the UN Secretary-General’s Stimulus
Package as a timely and necessary intervention to address the pressing
challenges facing the global economy and the most vulnerable
populations.
The package represents a crucial step towards creating a more
equitable and resilient global financial system, particularly as
developing nations continue to grapple with the impacts of climate
change and widening inequality.
For too long, African countries and other marginalized regions have
borne the brunt of global economic shocks without sufficient support
from the international community. This stimulus package not only
acknowledges these disparities but also seeks to correct them through
targeted financial aid, debt relief, and sustainable development
initiatives.
By addressing structural inequalities and ensuring that resources reach
those who need them most, the Secretary-General’s proposal is a call
to action for global solidarity. It will empower nations to rebuild more
sustainably, with renewed focuS on_ green energy, digital
transformation, and poverty eradication.
Rwanda believes that now is the time for bold multilateral action, and
this package is an essential step towards securing a more just,
inclusive, and sustainable future for all.
Mr President
Rwanda commends the efforts by the Secretary General and Member
States for convening the ‘Summit of the Future’.
This Summit and the adoption of the Pact of the Future are crucial steps
in boosting action to protect the interests of present and future
generations.
Rwanda knows first-hand what division and fracture can do to a
society, let alone a community of nations.
In the aftermath of the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994, We,
Rwandans, found ourselves at a crossroads, where we chose unity over
division for our own survival.
This choice was not an easy one, but it was the right one, and has
defined Rwanda’s post-Genocide nation-building ever since.
The world now stands at a similar crossroads, with a choice to make:
to choose unity for the collective good.
This is what the ‘Kwibuka Flame of Hope’ monument in memory of the
1994 genocide against the Tutsi, recently built in the gardens of this
United Nations building, stands to remind the world.
Excellencies;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Reports show that Africa is set to be the engine of future global growth
in the decades to come.
With the world’s fastest growing middle class, estimated to encompass
1.1 billion people by 2060, Africa will take the centre stage of global
affairs.
However, this feat cannot be achieved without the adequate tools to
both finance the decarbonisation of our economies and mitigate the
effects of climate change.
Building resilient economies in the Global South is an urgent priority,
which goes hand-in-hand with increased solidarity from those who are
most responsible for carbon pollution.
The pay-to-pollute model is not a viable option, solidarity and
investment are.
Consequently, advanced economies should reduce their emissions
faster and invest more in African autonomous transition.
In a few weeks, the world will gather in Baku, Azerbaijan, for COP29.
The international community should seize this opportunity to pledge
more for green investment in Africa.
Additionally, Rwanda encourages nations to join hands and conclude
an ambitious global plastics treaty, based on a comprehensive
approach that addresses the full life cycle of plastics, at the upcoming
INC-5 in Busan.
We have a historic opportunity to demonstrate our collective resolve to
end plastic pollution for the benefit of current and future generations.
Rwanda stands ready to play a positive role in that direction.
Excellencies.
Esteemed delegates.
The year 2024 marks two decades since Rwanda’s first deployment of
troops under the United Nations peacekeeping banner.
Today, Rwanda is among the top contributors with deployment in
missions across Africa.
And yet, insecurity in our region has reached unprecedented levels.
This is evidenced by the rising threat of radicalised insurgency in the
Southern part of the Continent, terrorism in the Sahel, or the presence
of state-sponsored genocidal militias right by our border.
Mr. President
Now more than ever, cosmetic fixes must be avoided in favour of long-
term solutions addressing the root causes of these conflicts.
Security is not only achieved by silencing the guns.
It is also achieved by building a fit-for-purpose global governance
system, capable of quickly adapting to crises.
Reform of multilateral financial institutions is complementary to the
reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), as both are
crucial for creating a more equitable and effective global governance
system.
The financial institutions, which shape global economic policies, and
the UNSC, which ensures peace and security, must evolve to better
address the diverse needs of today’s world.
Without reform, these bodies risk perpetuating inequalities, particularly
for Africa, which has historically been underrepresented in decision-
making processes. Reforming both the financial institutions and the
UNSC is vital to ensure fair representation, foster trust among nations,
and effectively respond to the pressing challenges of the modern era,
such as economic instability, climate change, and conflict.
In this regard, Rwanda fully supports the reform of the UN Security
Council to enhance its effectiveness and efficiency.
Such reforms are necessary to address longstanding injustices faced
by Africa, ensuring that the Council becomes more representative of
contemporary global challenges and dynamics.
Only through these changes can we build a system grounded in
equitable rules, unity, and solidarity.
As we conclude this General Assembly, let us remember that history
will judge us not by the challenges we faced but by how we responded
to them.
The reforms we seek are not just necessary, but inevitable, to ensure a
future grounded in justice, equity, and solidarity.
Rwanda stands ready to work with all nations, and we believe,
together, we can build the world we want—one where no nation or
continent is left behind. Let us seize this moment, for the future of
humanity depends on it.
Thank you.