New York – Côte d’Ivoire has called for stronger international support for African countries facing conflicts, terrorism, climate pressures and major development financing gaps, with Vice President Tiémoko Meyliet Koné warning that the global peace system is becoming increasingly fragmented.
Koné made the remarks on Thursday, 24 September 2026, while representing President Alassane Ouattara at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
He said the international community was facing a difficult period marked by expanding conflicts, geopolitical divisions, violent extremism, humanitarian emergencies and growing inequalities.
“The world is looking on at the gradual fragmentation of its peace architecture” and an alarming reconfiguration of the international landscape, he said, pointing to the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan.
Koné said the weakening of multilateral cooperation was also affecting Africa, where several countries were struggling to deal with conflicts and meet the costs of counterterrorism and peacekeeping operations.
“Due to a lack of support from certain partners and from the United Nations,” several African countries are struggling to find lasting solutions to conflicts and to bear the cost of various counterterrorism and peacekeeping operations, he said.
He also warned that violent extremism, organised crime and illicit trafficking continued to threaten parts of the continent, particularly the Sahel.
Koné said no country could permanently address such threats alone and called for stronger regional cooperation, international solidarity and greater investment in preventing conflicts before they escalate.
He said poverty, inequality, youth unemployment and marginalisation were among the conditions that could contribute to instability.
Côte d’Ivoire commended the work of the United Nations, African Union, Economic Community of West African States and other security partners involved in stabilisation efforts.
Côte d’Ivoire backs UN reform
Koné renewed Côte d’Ivoire’s support for reform of the UN Security Council, including permanent African representation.
He said the international institutions created after the Second World War needed to better reflect the political, demographic and economic realities of the 21st century.
“It is becoming increasingly difficult to explain to younger generations that organizations created in the aftermath of the Second World War can no longer faithfully reflect the political, demographic and economic realities of the 21st century,” he said.
Côte d’Ivoire also welcomed progress on the Pact for the Future and called for its implementation.
Koné said the international community should now focus on turning existing commitments into practical results that improve people’s lives.
Calls for financial reform
The Ivorian vice president said lasting peace could not be achieved without inclusive and equitable economic development.
With the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals approaching, he said progress remained insufficient while developing countries continued to face substantial financing needs.
Koné referred to the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, which he said had established that the resources required for development existed, but that countries needed to improve their ability to mobilise and distribute those resources.
“The challenge now lies in our collective ability to mobilize them and to channel them with greater equity, solidarity and effectiveness in the service of sustainable development,” he said.
Côte d’Ivoire called for ambitious reform of the international financial architecture and a renewed global partnership that would give developing countries fairer access to financing for infrastructure, healthcare, education, energy, industrial transformation and decent employment for young people.
Africa and climate finance
Koné also drew attention to Africa’s exposure to climate change.
He said the continent contributes relatively little to global greenhouse gas emissions while facing severe consequences, including droughts, floods, land degradation and disruptions to food systems.
“These directly threaten the ways of life and the livelihoods of millions of people,” he said.
Côte d’Ivoire therefore called for international commitments on climate finance, adaptation and technology transfer to be honoured.
Koné said climate action required the same level of international mobilisation needed to address other global development challenges.
Côte d’Ivoire addresses AI risks
Artificial intelligence and the wider digital revolution were also part of Koné’s address.
He said technological advances were creating new opportunities across different areas but could also deepen existing inequalities if access to technology and its benefits remained uneven.
Côte d’Ivoire supports efforts by the United Nations to establish global governance for artificial intelligence that promotes innovation while protecting human dignity, international security and sustainable development.
Koné said such governance should be based on inclusion, ethical principles and fair access to the benefits of technological progress.
Côte d’Ivoire’s development plan
Koné said Côte d’Ivoire was pursuing a stronger and more diversified economy while maintaining peace and stability.
The country’s National Development Plan for 2026 to 2030 forms part of its longer term development strategy and is aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
“Our ambition remains to build a prosperous and united nation where economic growth translates into greater opportunity, social progress and well-being for all of our people,” he said.
Conflicts in Africa and beyond
Koné expressed concern about conflicts in the Near and Middle East, saying their consequences were affecting global food, energy and economic security.
He also pointed to the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan, where prolonged conflicts have created severe humanitarian consequences.
Côte d’Ivoire called for dialogue to take precedence over armed confrontation and reaffirmed its support for peaceful dispute resolution under the UN Charter.
The country also expressed solidarity with Haiti and said it would continue supporting initiatives aimed at helping Haitian authorities and international partners restore security and democratic institutions.
Koné said Côte d’Ivoire would continue supporting mediation efforts led by the United Nations, African Union and relevant regional organisations.
He also called for multilateralism to be strengthened by restoring trust between countries and improving the ability of international institutions to produce practical outcomes.
As the United Nations enters its ninth decade, Koné said countries must choose dialogue over confrontation, cooperation over isolation and solidarity over indifference.
He said the international community should place people at the centre of decision making and treat diversity as a source of strength rather than division.
Côte d’Ivoire, he said, would continue contributing to international efforts to promote peace, dialogue and multilateral cooperation.
Leave a comment