Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has said that the international system is not meeting up to the needs of many African countries.
Tuggar who stated this while speaking at Chatham House, pointed out that many African nations, including Nigeria, have long experienced challenges that the current international frameworks have struggled to address.
He highlighted ongoing conflicts in Sudan, eastern Congo, and the Sahel, where the United Nations and other international bodies have often been ineffective in providing lasting solutions.
The minister noted that the UN is barely able to manage humanitarian support, or find solutions to end the conflict, criticising the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which he said had disproportionate impact on developing countries.
Tuggar called for a reform of the global financial architecture, particularly in light of the challenges posed by economic disparity.
He pointed to issues such as the Basel IV regulations and the unequal access to markets, capital, and technology, which continue to hamper Africa’s development.
Tuggar argued that the international system often prioritises the interests of wealthier nations over those of the developing world calling for more honesty in the rules-based international order.
He urged global leaders to recognise the need for change, asserting that the current system cannot continue to operate as it has in the past.