Úmaro Sissoco Embaló, President of Guinea-Bissau, underscored the importance of the United Nations on its eightieth anniversary — as well as its related organizations and agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).  They provide treatment, education, vaccines and food, protecting millions while contributing to the fight against poverty.  “The United Nations remains relevant, especially in these times of deep global uncertainty and crisis,” he stressed.

He welcomed the UN80 initiative against a backdrop of conflicts, environmental shocks, political instability and humanitarian emergencies that disproportionately affect small island developing States. Further, “the sovereign debt burden of poor countries is increasing while development assistance is declining”, he said.  Highlighting his role as the President of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries, Mr. Embaló said the organization would work towards implementing global commitments of the Paris Agreement on climate change and the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development.

He said the upcoming thirtieth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), in Belém, and second World Summit for Social Development, in Doha, will be key to enhance cooperation on shared goals.  He noted that Guinea-Bissau will hold elections in 2026 that will be transparent and credible.  “Over the past five years, I have prioritized dialogue, inclusion, political stability and the consolidation of the democratic rule of law,” he said, while stressing more broadly that “we need, now more than ever, a world order grounded in the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter” and calling for an end to the embargo on Cuba.

In a similar vein, he suggested several UN reforms, including expanding the Security Council, amplifying the “voice of the Global South” and restoring confidence in international cooperation.  “[The United Nations’] core ideals — peace, dignity, equality, poverty eradication, cooperation and peaceful resolution of conflicts — remain alive and continue to inspire the purposes of the international community and the march of humanity,” he concluded.