FAUSTIN ARCHANGE TOUADERA, President of the Central African Republic, recalled the 30 July decision of the Security Council to lift the unjust, harmful decade-long arms embargo on his country, noting that the belated move will help establish peace and security in the territory and region and contribute to sustainable development. As the Central African Republic has great mining potential, he voiced optimism that the diamond embargo imposed by the Kimberley Process will also be lifted to aid the country’s economic development.  “Peace is inextricably linked to sustainable development,” he said noting that this General Assembly session is marked by conflicts between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, between Israel and Hamas, in Sudan and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  Nonetheless, dialogue is the only tool that can put an end to the bloodshed, he said.

This year has been a period of stability for the Central African Republic, he continued, adding that the country will organize regional democratic elections for the first time in 40 years.  Measures have been taken to remove armed groups vying for control through violent means from the State.  Moreover, the tenth session of the Strategic Committee of the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration programme marked a turning point to appreciate the success of the National Reconciliation and the Luanda Joint Roadmap.  Nonetheless, his country faces challenges including the construction of more military bases in key areas where defence against threats is lacking.  Turning to the climate crisis, he said that in sub-Saharan Africa, the “epicentre of humanitarian crises”, environmental catastrophes have caused more than 1,000 deaths and more than 4 million people to be displaced, with almost incalculable monetary cost in structural damage.

Developing countries pay the highest price in this world marked by strife and crises, he said.  Already made poor by centuries of slavery, colonialism and neocolonialism, meddling in their internal affairs and being disadvantaged by the international financial infrastructure, they are “looking on powerlessly” as security, financial, economic, food and environmental challenges mount.  Promises of financing to vulnerable countries are slow to come, and decisions made by powerful countries at United Nations Climate Change Conferences change like the weather.  While the Central African Republic has put measures in place to respond to climate change, it depends on often unstable financing, he said, urging the Assembly to work towards addressing security risks linked to climate change.  “The world is teetering close to the brink,” he warned, adding that the United Nations architecture that maintains peace and security is under unprecedented pressure.  In that vein, Africa’s demands for Security Council reform and the right to the veto are legitimate.  Welcoming the United States’ support for the creation of two new permanent seats for Africa and one rotating seat for small island developing countries, he insisted that Africa — long sidelined — must also have veto powers.

Moreover, it is high time to accelerate reform of the global financial infrastructure to remedy inequality.  Financing to obtain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) must be mobilized to protect the planet.  In 2050, half the world’s global youth will live in Africa, and half of its countries will see their populations double.  While the documents signed at the Pact for the Future are a good first step, the implementation of the SDGs should be sped up, particularly in the areas of science, technology and digital cooperation.  Young people, women and girls must be included and invested in to guarantee a future for all, he said.  For its part, the Central African Republic’s ambitious National Development Plan 2024-28 strikes a balance between the needs of today’s population and future generations in line with human capital development.