In his op-ed "Making the 'Pact for the Future' a Pact for Peace", UN SRSG Parfait Onanga-
Anyanga advocates for global peace, and emphasises the urgent need for collective
action to safeguard peace in an increasingly volatile world. Drawing from United
Nations Secretary-General António Guterres’ policy briefs “Our Common Agenda” and “A
New Agenda for Peace”, and citing the promise of the upcoming Summit of the Future,
the SRSG addresses how poverty, inequality, climate change, great power rivalries and
mistrust, are straining multilateralism and eroding global stability. He advocates for
preventive diplomacy, a fairer and more inclusive global governance, and innovative
peace-financing mechanisms, especially for Africa where a large share of the UN
Security Council’s agenda is focused.
The op-ed makes a compelling case for global solidarity, urging governments and
individuals to take bold steps to ensure a future where peace prevails. It is a timely
piece that aligns with key global initiatives and would resonate with readers concerned
about what the future holds for global and regional peace, security, and sustainable
development.
Making the ‘Pact for the Future’ a Pact for Peace
By Parfait Onanga-Anyanga
Peace is a common good. Oftentimes it eludes us, in part because of our own actions
and omissions. However, it is undeniable that peace has never been so coveted as it is
today.
While presenting ‘Our Common Agenda’, United Nations Secretary-General António
Guterres characterised our era as the “biggest shared test since the Second World War,
where humanity faces a stark and urgent choice: a breakdown or a breakthrough”. The
findings on progress towards attaining the sustainable development goals (SDGs) are
instructive. High levels of poverty compound already complex socio-economic realities,
which outdated education systems cannot address. Food systems, unless transformed,
will not allow us to eradicate hunger by 2030, leaving a projected 2 billion people food
insecure by 2050. The Covid-19 pandemic exposed the fragilities of global health
systems, underscoring the need for collective solutions. Gender inequality continues to
hinder social progress. Essential services such as water, sanitation, affordable and
sustainable energy, and decent employment, prerequisites for inclusive and sustainable
economic growth, are moving backwards in relation to the SDGs and the aspirations of
African Union Agenda 2063. Infrastructure for inclusive, safer, sustainable and resilient
human settlements is lacking. We are experiencing unprecedented extreme weather
events and climate patterns.
On the peace and security front, multilateralism is evidently under severe strain. We are
witnessing mistrust among nations and competition among great powers; a growing
sense of global instability, turmoil and polarization; increasing militarisation; and
flagrant challenges to the normative order and international law, including instances of
disregard for the most fundamental principle of the territorial integrity of sovereign
states. The institutions and mechanisms established to promote cooperation and
understanding between states, and to prevent ‘the scourge of war’, have become
inadequate, at times putting into question the viability of peace.
On 22-23 September, the General Assembly of the United Nations will hold the Summit
of the Future, designed to forge a global consensus on what our common future should
look like and what we can do today to secure it. The summit will call for decisive action
on sustainable development, financing for development, international peace and
security, technology and innovation, youth and future generations, and transforming
global governance. A peace, security and development nexus approach must be central
to these efforts, to ensure peace, security and shared prosperity, rooted in the purposes
and principles of the UN Charter. In a world in transition, expectations are high that the
‘Pact for the Future’ will reflect principles of unity, equity, inclusivity and solidarity,
aligned with the realities of the 21st century, and where peace reigns.
Strengthening preventive diplomacy for peace is essential. This requires making greater
use of the United Nations as an inclusive arena for diplomacy; enhancing the Secretary-
General’s ‘Good Offices’ role; strengthening collaboration between the United Nations
and regional organizations such as the African Union; and building stronger national
prevention strategies. Reforming the United Nations, particularly the Security Council, is
also vital to make it more representative, agile, responsive, accountable and resilient,
reinforcing its ability to facilitate a rules-based peaceful international order.
The Secretary-General has also prioritised response to conflict, including through
conflict prevention and management, peacekeeping and AU-led peace support
operations, and addressing root causes of conflict. Innovative financing mechanisms
for peace support operations are crucial, particularly in Africa, which faces significant
vulnerabilities, to more effectively respond to evolving asymmetrical threats and a
changing security landscape. This in turn should make the United Nations Security
Council more credible since more than 70 percent of its agenda focuses on Africa.
By adopting, in December 2023, resolution 2719, the Security Council provided itself
another tool for a more tailored response to address peace and security challenges in
Africa, through greater collaboration with regional intergovernmental bodies, notably the
African Union, consistent with Chapter VIII of the UN Charter.
We are at a pivotal moment in global history, with a unique opportunity to make bold
and more intelligent choices for future generations. The stakes cannot be higher.
Sounding the alarm bell, Secretary-General Guterres stressed that “The world is faced
with a stark choice: reform or rupture”, and warned that “it may be our last chance to act
decisively and responsibly.”
On this International Peace Day, I echo the Secretary General’s call: Now is the time to
re-embrace global solidarity and find new ways to work together for peace; …to renew the
social contract between governments and their people within societies; …to rebuild trust
in global institutions, and embrace a comprehensive vision of human rights where gender
biases are eradicated and the promises of a world free from discrimination are realized;
…to ensure young people and succeeding generations are change agents better prepared
for the challenges ahead; …to build a stronger, more networked and inclusive multilateral
system that is anchored within the United Nations and works for all of humanity.
