APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has underscored the need to establish lasting democratic governance backed by the rule of law across Africa.
Speaking about the recent series of military coups predominantly in Africa on Thursday, Guterres said “many countries face deep-seated governance challenges but military governments are not the solution.
The military takeover in Gabon on Wednesday came on the heels of those of Niger last month, Burkina Faso in 2022, and Chad, Guinea, Sudan and Mali in the years prior to that, he said.
The Gabonese military takeover was announced not long after the electoral authorities declared that President Ali Bongo had secured another term, even though there were allegations of electoral irregularities.
During a media briefing at the UN headquarters in New York, Guterres said, “Many countries face deep-seated governance challenges. But military governments are not the solution.”
“They aggravate problems. They cannot resolve a crisis; they can only make it worse,” he added.
The UN chief appealed to nations to act promptly in setting up trustworthy democratic systems and maintaining the rule of law.
Guterres pointed to the necessity of empowering international organizations like the African Union to play a pivotal role in the promotion of peace, democratic stability, and governance in Africa.
MG/as/APA