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Africa: Eighty Years On, UN Charter Marked By Reflection, Resolve – and a Run

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3 months ago

June 28, 2025

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It wasn’t an average Thursday morning in Manhattan. In the early hours, UN diplomats (and UN News) hit the streets in their sneakers – from Times Square to East River – following a route that traced the shape of “UN@80”.
Under cooler skies after days of intense heat, the run ended where it all began, at the original UN Charter – the document that launched the Organization and reshaped the modern international order – now on display at UN Headquarters.
Inside the General Assembly Hall, delegates gathered to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its signing.
They reflected on the past eight decades in which the UN helped rebuild countries after the Second World War, supported former colonies’ independence, fostered peace, delivered aid, advanced human rights and development, and tackling emerging threats like climate change.
To save succeeding generations from the scourge of war
General Assembly President Philémon Yang described the moment as “symbolic” but somber, noting ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan, and the growing challenges to multilateralism.
He urged nations to choose diplomacy over force and uphold the Charter’s vision of peace and human dignity: “We must seize the moment and choose dialogue and diplomacy instead of destructive wars.”
Secretary-General António Guterres echoed this call, warning that the Charter’s principles are increasingly under threat and must be defended as the bedrock of international relations.
“The Charter of the United Nations is not optional. It is not an à la carte menu. It is the bedrock of international relations,” he said, stressing the need to recommit to its promises “for peace, for justice, for progress, for we the peoples.”
Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Security Council President for June, emphasized the urgency of renewed collective action to address emerging global threats.
“Let this 80th anniversary of the Charter be not just an occasion for reflection, but also a call to action,” she urged.
To unite our strength to maintain international peace and security
Eighty years ago, on 26 June 1945, delegates from 50 countries gathered in San Francisco to sign a document that would change the course of history.
Forged in the aftermath of the Second World War, by a generation scarred by the Great Depression and the Holocaust and having learnt the painful lessons of the League of Nations’ collapse, the Charter of the United Nations represented a new global pact.
Its preamble – “We the peoples of the United Nations” – echoed the determination to prevent future conflict, reaffirm faith in human rights, and promote peace and social progress.
That very document, preserved by the United States National Archives and Records Administration, has returned – for the first time in decades – to the heart of the institution it founded.
Now on public display at UN Headquarters through September, the original Charter stands as a powerful symbol: not just of a past promise, but of an enduring commitment to multilateralism, peace and shared purpose.
Video: UN Charter returns to UN HeadquartersTo promote social progress and better standards of life
More voices – from the presidents of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – also took the floor, reaffirming the enduring relevance of the Charter and the need to defend it.
Bob Rae, ECOSOC President, drew an arc through human history to underscore the UN’s relative youth – just eight decades old in a global context of millennia.
“We currently have the advantage of being able to lucidly look at what we have accomplished, while also recognizing our successes and failures,” he said, holding up a copy of the Charter once used by his father.
“The United Nations is not a government and the Charter is not perfect,” he said, “but it was founded with great aspirations and hope.“
ICJ President Judge Yuji Iwasawa reflected on the progress since 1945 and the challenges still facing the global community.
“In the 80 years since the drafters of the Charter set down their pens, the international community has achieved remarkable progress. However, it also faces many challenges,” he said. “The vision of the Charter’s drafters to uphold the rule of law for the maintenance of international peace and security, remains not only relevant but indispensable today.“
To reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights
In a powerful reminder that the Charter speaks not only to the past but to future generations, Jordan Sanchez, a young poet took the stage.
Her spoken word piece, Let the Light Fall, evoked not declarations, but feelings of hope and vision for a better world.
“Let the light fall,” she began, “on fallen faces hidden in the shadow of scorn…where may the children run towards the light of your face, towards the warmth of your presence and the stillness of your peace.”
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“There is no fear, only abundance, of safety, of security, of knowing there will always be enough light for me” she said, describing a dreamscape of Eden restored – not a paradise lost, but glimpsed in justice, fairness and shared humanity.
“Let us be bold enough to look down and take it, humble enough to kneel down and bathe in it, loving enough to collect and share it, and childish enough to truly, truly believe in it.“
The equal rights of men and women
As the world marks 80 years of the UN Charter, it’s worth remembering that its promise of equal rights for men and women was hard-won from the very start.
In 1945, just four women were among the 850 delegates who gathered in San Francisco to sign the document, and only 30 of the represented countries granted women the right to vote.
In a 2018 UN News podcast, researchers spotlighted these overlooked trailblazers – and asked why the women who helped shape the UN’s founding vision are so often left out of its story.
Listen to the podcast here.
Note: The subheads in this article are taken directly from the Preamble of the United Nations Charter, whose enduring language continues to guide the Organization’s mission.
Read the original article on UN News.
AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.
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Africa: Somalia Steps Into the Spotlight As Mogadishu Hosts East Africa's Key Summit

Published

4 minutes ago

October 8, 2025

An24 Africa

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Mogadishu, Somalia – Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Tuesday officially opened the 2nd East African Community Cooperation Conference (EACON2025) in Mogadishu, marking another milestone in the country’s growing role within the East African bloc.
In his keynote address, President Mohamud highlighted Somalia’s historic legacy as a hub of trade and seafaring along the Indian Ocean, reaffirming his government’s commitment to advancing economic integration, regional security, and collective prosperity across East Africa.
“The majority of expatriates working in Somalia today are from East African countries. This shows how deeply interconnected our region already is,” President Mohamud said.
“Somalia’s active participation in the EAC will not only strengthen those bonds but open new opportunities for all partner states.” He added.
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He also praised Somali entrepreneurs for driving national development through investments in education, health, and infrastructure–urging them to build stronger business partnerships with counterparts across the region.
The two-day summit has drawn senior officials from all EAC member states, Somali government representatives, and regional business leaders. Delegates are focusing on boosting trade, cross-border investment, and joint responses to shared challenges in agriculture, energy, fisheries, and digital innovation.
For Mogadishu, hosting the event for the second time carries symbolic weight. Once defined by decades of conflict, Somalia is positioning itself as a bridge in regional cooperation. The conference, officials say, is as much about symbolism as it is about substance–projecting Somalia as a committed member of the EAC’s political and economic architecture.
Somalia became the eighth full member of the East African Community in March 2024, joining Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its admission was hailed as historic: the bloc, home to more than 300 million people, now stretches from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean.
Membership gave Somalia access to new trade corridors, a common market, and stronger collective bargaining power–while also committing it to aligning policies with regional standards. For a country rebuilding its institutions, the challenge has been how to transform membership into tangible benefits for ordinary citizens.
Read the original article on Radio Dalsan.
AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.
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Africa: Istanbul to Host 5th Turkish-Africa Economic Forum

Published

1 hour ago

October 8, 2025

An24 Africa

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The city of Istanbul will play host to the 5th Turkey-Africa Economic Forum (TABEF), which is scheduled for October 16th -17th, 2025 at Istanbul Congress Centre (ICC) in Turkey.
Hosted by Turkey’s Ministry of Trade and organised by the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) in cooperation with the African Union, the event aims to foster stronger economic ties through investment, trade, and industrial partnerships.
The forum will be graced by the President of the Republic of Türkiye H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Chairperson of the African Union and President of the Republic of Angola H.E. João Goncalves Lourenço, Minister of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye H.E. Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat, Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals of the African Union, H.E. Francisca Tatchouop Belobe, President of DEİK, Nail Olpak, Coordinating Chairperson of DEİK/Türkiye-Africa Business Councils Fuat Tosyali, Acting Chairperson of African Business Council (AfBC) Dr. Amany Asfour, as well as H.E. First Lady Emine Erdoğan and Ministers of Economy, Trade and Finance from various African countries.
The event is expected to attract participants including Heads of State, ministers, and business leaders from both regions, as it looks forward to discuss crucial areas pertinent to the development of both sides notably; agriculture, digital infrastructure, and textiles, among a host of others.
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The theme for this year’s forum is “Leveraging Türkiye-Africa Relations for Mutual Gains”.
Overview
Launched in line with the decisions adopted during the Second Türkiye-Africa Partnership Summit held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea in November 2014, TABEF is a biennial event initiated since 2016.
Besides, TABEF aims to analyse the commercial and economic relations between Türkiye and African countries, assess Türkiye’s investment approach toward the continent, and enhance interactions between business communities. It also seeks to initiate dialogue between Turkish investors, the African Union (AU), and regional economic communities in order to reinforce investment ties between Türkiye and Africa.
In addition, it provides a valuable platform for leading public and private sector representatives from both Türkiye and Africa to share their experiences and policy recommendations for developing the private sector and fostering innovation-based Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
Through this initiative, the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye and the African Union Commission are committed to enhancing cooperation opportunities through the success of this forthcoming forum to be held in Istanbul.
Thus, the event will focus on priority economic sectors in their bid to jointly address challenges, while identifying opportunities to establish stronger economic partnerships between Türkiye and African countries–always with a view to shared interests.
Agriculture being a dominant sector for most African countries, the delegates at the forum are urge to capitalise on the existing opportunities to spur investment opportunities for increased growth in the sector.
Other priority areas like artificial intelligence, defense, and digital and data infrastructure and automotive industry among a host of others, will also take centre stage.
In essence, TABEF seeks to offer a vital opportunity to develop innovative and win-win project partnerships, allowing Türkiye and Africa to emerge as indispensable global partners through effective investment incentives that support foreign direct investment (FDI) and public-private partnerships (PPPs).
Stronger collaboration in agro-industry, healthcare, and tourism holds the promise of advancing mutual prosperity and fostering economic diversification. In this respect, TABEF will play a key role in highlighting innovative approaches, policies, and initiatives that can unlock the partnership potential between Türkiye and Africa and lead to inclusive growth and shared welfare.
Furthermore, by encouraging knowledge-sharing between the parties, the Forum will contribute to the establishment of stronger and long-lasting partnerships.
The event will also feature panel session on key thematic areas notably; B2B Meetings, B2G Sessions as well as sessions on Türkiye-Africa Women Leadership and Entrepreneurship Dialogue.
Turkey-Africa Trade and Economic Relations
In order to assess the current stage of Turkey’s relations with African countries and to identify additional ways and means to further advance them, the First Türkiye-Africa Cooperation Summit was held in Istanbul on 18-21 August 2008 with the participation of 49 African countries and representatives of 11 international and regional organisations, including the African Union. This led to the formation of “Istanbul Declaration on Türkiye-Africa Cooperation: Partnership and Solidarity for a Common Future” and the “Framework for Cooperation for Türkiye-Africa Partnership” adopted at the Summit provided a sustainable structure for Türkiye-Africa relations.
In recent years, Türkiye’s relations with Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries have gained remarkable momentum. Initiated in 1998, accelerated by Türkiye’s observer membership to the African Union in 2005, and reinforced when Türkiye was declared a strategic partner of the African Union in 2008, the multi-dimensional Opening to Africa Policy achieved significant progress in political, economic, cultural, security, and development fields. This policy was successfully completed and was replaced in 2013 by the Africa Partnership Policy.
Economic ties have expanded rapidly over the last two decades. The Türkiye-Africa trade volume rose from USD 5.4 billion in 2003 to USD 40.7 billion by the end of 2022. In 2024, the trade volume stood at around USD 36.5 billion, with exports amounting to USD 21.8 billion and imports to USD 15 billion. Key partners on the continent include Egypt, Algeria, Libya, South Africa, and Nigeria. As of today, Türkiye has Free Trade Agreements in force with Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and Mauritius. The FTA with Sudan is expected to enter into force following the completion of internal ratification procedures, while negotiations with Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and Libya are ongoing.
The backbone of Türkiye’s steadily growing bilateral relations with African countries since 2003 has been the Strategy for the Development of Commercial and Economic Relations with Africa. This Strategy was updated at the Second Türkiye-Africa Partnership Summit in Malabo in 2014 to reflect the continent’s evolving needs. At the Third Summit held in Istanbul in 2021, the 2022-2026 Joint Action Plan was adopted. The main objectives of the Strategy are to increase Türkiye’s direct investments in Africa, create more job opportunities, and foster a conducive environment for the continent’s economic development.
As of today, Türkiye’s direct investment stock in Africa has exceeded USD 10 billion. Turkish contractors have undertaken more than 2,000 projects across the continent, with a total value approaching USD 97 billion. Türkiye’s diplomatic presence in Africa has grown from 12 embassies in 2002 to 44 embassies today. Turkish Airlines currently operates flights to 51 destinations in 39 African countries. In addition, institutions such as TİKA, the Maarif Foundation, and the Yunus Emre Institute are actively engaged across the continent in education, cultural exchange, and development cooperation.
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The foundation of Türkiye’s Africa vision is based on the principles of equal partnership, mutual benefit, and sustainable development. The 5th Türkiye-Africa Business and Economic Forum (TABEF 2025) to be held in Istanbul in October 2025 will provide a critical platform to advance trade, investment, and development dimensions of our partnership. Furthermore, the 4th Türkiye-Africa Partnership Summit, to be convened in Africa in 2026, is expected to raise the trade volume beyond USD 45 billion, finalise new Free Trade Agreements, and establish a broader and more inclusive basis for economic cooperation across the continent.
Why Attend
The Forum will be an excellent opportunity to update the current relations among the business people of participating countries and set new targets for the further development of our economic, commercial and business partnerships.
It will greatly help in expanding one’s business and discover trade & business opportunities.
“It will also help introduce one’s company and projects, products & services; meet prospective partners and generate international exposure for your brand; establish relationships with Turkish investors, suppliers & contractors; connect with new buyers & distributors from Africa; engage with international media thus allowing access to major projects and financial instruments.”
Salam Financial Service staff participate in ‘Walk for Health’
Read the original article on The Point.
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Africa: Kenya's M-Kopa Turns Profit After a Decade of Expansion Across Africa

Published

3 hours ago

October 8, 2025

An24 Africa

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TLDR
Kenyan asset-financing startup M-KOPA has reported its first-ever profit after more than a decade of operations across Africa.
The Nairobi-based company posted a KES 1.2 billion ($9.2 million) profit in 2024, reversing a KES 3.2 billion ($24.7 million) loss in 2023, according to filings in the UK. Revenue surged 66% to KES 53.7 billion ($416 million), driven by higher demand for smartphones and digital financial services.
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Founded in 2011 to provide solar home systems on credit, M-KOPA has since evolved into a digital finance platform offering smartphones, loans, and insurance to millions of customers in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, South Africa, and Ghana.
The company credited its turnaround to top-line growth, tighter cost control, stronger credit underwriting, and better portfolio management. M-KOPA’s smartphone financing partnerships with Samsung and Nokia, coupled with a local assembly plant in Nairobi, have become major revenue drivers.
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Key Takeaways
M-KOPA’s return to profitability marks a defining moment for Africa’s pay-as-you-go and digital credit ecosystem. Long seen as a test case for inclusive asset financing, the company’s success demonstrates how fintechs can achieve both scale and sustainability amid tighter funding conditions. As global investors push African startups to prioritize profitability over growth, M-KOPA’s performance provides a potential blueprint — combining alternative data for credit scoring, disciplined cost management, and product diversification. Its smartphone-led lending model has strengthened cross-selling opportunities in cash loans and micro-insurance, while building customer loyalty in frontier markets. With over $250 million raised from investors such as Generation Investment Management, Lightrock, and British International Investment, M-KOPA’s profit milestone could reset investor sentiment toward Africa’s fintech and BNPL sectors, proving that large-scale, impact-driven finance models can deliver real returns.
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Read the original article on Daba Finance.
AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.
Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.
AllAfrica is a voice of, by and about Africa – aggregating, producing and distributing 600 news and information items daily from over 110 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public. We operate from Cape Town, Dakar, Abuja, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington DC.
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