UNITED NATIONS, New York, Oct 28 – Following are Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, to the Security Council’s virtual high-level debate on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations — African Union:
The Secretary-General regrettably could not join you today and he therefore asked me to convey his regards and to provide this briefing on his behalf.
Let me begin by congratulating Your Excellency, President Uhuru Kenyatta, as Kenya concludes a prolific month as President of the Security Council. I also salute Donald Kaberuka, African Union High Representative for Financing of the Union and the African Union Peace Fund, who joins us today.
And thank you to the members of the Security Council for helping us shine a spotlight on the vital importance of peace and security in Africa. And how the United Nations — and all Member States — can join forces with the African Union and other regional and subregional groups to achieve this vision.
This discussion takes place in the context of a number of worrying trends across the continent. COVID-19 has created additional socioeconomic burdens on countries’ efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals.
In too many places, we are seeing a rise in seizures of power by force. Earlier this week, a military coup d’état took place in Sudan, posing a major threat to the political transition taking place since the signing of the Constitutional Declaration in August 2019.
The conflict in northern Ethiopia continues unabated, despite appeals by the African Union and the United Nations for a permanent ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access to the Tigray region.
In the Sahel, and throughout the Lake Chad Basin region, we face persistent threats of terrorism and violent extremism from groups affiliated to Al-Qaida, Da’esh and Boko Haram. And we’re seeing a proliferation of militias.
And across Africa, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated poverty, inequalities and all the drivers of conflict. It has undercut the provision of public services, disrupted supply chains, slowed economic activity, and hampered peace agreements and conflict resolution.
Despite these worrisome developments, the people of Africa are determined to work relentlessly for a more prosperous, sustainable and peaceful continent. One based on shared values and the universal principles of human rights.
The Secretary-General’s annual report on the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union contains a number of hopeful developments. This includes a peaceful and inclusive election in Burkina Faso. And peaceful transfers of power in Niger and Zambia following presidential elections.
Throughout, we’re seeing growing cooperation between the United Nations, the African Union, and subregional organizations on sustainable development, elections and peace processes. In Libya, for example, the United Nations is working closely with the African Union, the League of Arab States, and the European Union to support the ceasefire agreement and preparations for the upcoming elections.
The African Union has played a particularly active role in the International Follow-Up Committee on Libya of the Berlin process, including as a co-chair of the Security Working Group. I also welcome the African Union’s efforts to lead international support for the Libyan reconciliation process. The United Nations stands ready to work with the African Union in support of Libyan authorities and support a rights-based reconciliation process.
We’re also working closely with the African Union and subregional organizations to support the countries of the Sahel and beyond, including to address the return of mercenaries and foreign fighters to their countries of origin. And we’re committed to continuing our support for the African Union-led negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
The United Nations special political missions, peacekeeping missions, and country teams in Africa continue to provide comprehensive support to other peace initiatives and political transitions — including in Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan.
We work closely with the African Union on regular joint consultations and analyses through our cooperation frameworks for peace and security, humanitarian aid and for sustainable development — our blueprint for joint integrated action. The United Nations Office to the African Union is playing a key role in that regard.
And once the ongoing discussions on the division of responsibilities between the African Union and the Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms are concluded, the United Nations looks forward to continue harnessing the opportunities and strengths of each organization, and build effective conflict prevention and resolution strategies as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change continues to affect the continent, particularly women and youth.
While our partnership with the African Union and subregional organizations is a necessary condition for peace, security, humanitarian, development, and justice in Africa, we also recognize that all Member States need to support these efforts.
In the Secretary-General’s report on Our Common Agenda, he underlined the need to re-embrace global solidarity to find new ways to work together for the common good of all people in every country, grounded in human rights and through a stronger, more networked and inclusive multilateral system. In this context, I would like to add three urgent actions that require global solidarity and support.
First, we need to prioritize our response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa through accelerated vaccine distribution, strengthening national health systems and much needed investments in preparedness. Today, only about 5 per cent of the population in Africa is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. We urgently require universal access to COVID-19 vaccines, support for domestic manufacturing of vaccines, and financing to alleviate the socioeconomic challenges caused by the pandemic.
Second, we need to reaffirm our focus on sustainable development, with Agenda 2030 and 2063 at the heart of our common efforts. Ultimately, sustainable and inclusive development is our best chance to address the root causes of conflict and achieve a future of peace and prosperity for all.
Despite the pandemic, African countries have shown remarkable resilience. According to International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates, economic growth will expand at 3.4 per cent in 2021, but African countries are in urgent need of liquidity and debt relief to create jobs, expand social protection and reverse poverty trends. Recovery must be grounded in advancing just transitions in key areas such as energy, food systems, digital connectivity and infrastructure. Urgent action is needed to speed up the re-channelling of special drawing rights (SDRs) and increase fiscal space.
Spurring these transitions and implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area — a major achievement for the region — will facilitate trade, help reduce emissions, support those who are shifting from the brown economy and create new jobs geared to the economy of tomorrow for Africa’s burgeoning youth population. It could also boost the region’s combined GDP by $44 billion and create millions of jobs. In addition, digital transformation offers the potential to considerably accelerate trade, job creation and access to services.
And as we look to a sustainable and green recovery out of COVID-19 and to meet the promises of the 2030 Agenda, we should redouble our commitment to strengthening our institutions to respond to the needs of all people — especially women, youth, and minorities. One powerful litmus test will be ensuring the full representation of women as countries make the journey to peace and stability.
And third, we need to continue securing adequate, predictable, and sustainable resources that will bring to life development, peace and security mandates across Africa. Here, I would like to highlight the centrality of ensuring coherent action across peace, development and humanitarian objectives in the continent — in establishing a common vision, in ensuring complementarity and safeguarding of investments.
The African Union Peace Fund is an inspiring example. I call on the members of this Council to work with the African Union’s Peace and Security Council to strengthen financing mechanisms for African Union-led peace support operations authorized by the Security Council.
In the Sahel, the United Nations stands ready to, jointly with the African Union, convene an international forum with the G5 Sahel States and their partners to bolster peace and development efforts across the Sahel in support of the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel.
Under the guidance of Member States, we will spare no effort to make our partnerships more effective to help all Africans build a more inclusive, prosperous, integrated and peaceful continent, as envisaged in Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
9月23日，美国密歇根州民主党众议员海莉·史蒂文斯（Haley Stevens）今天提出了一项新法案，旨在降低从事体力劳动工作的群体领取全额社会保障（Social Security）退休金的年龄门槛。该提案能否在美国国会获得支持，尚有待观察。 这项名为《蓝领社会保障公平法案》（Blue Collar Social Security Fairness Act）的提案规定，符合条件的美国人最早可在60岁时开始领取全额社会保障退休金。 目前，美国领取社会保障退休金的最早年龄是62岁，但若选择在该年龄开始领取，每月领取的金额会相应减少。如果等到“完全退休年龄”，对于1960年或之后出生的人来说是67岁再开始领取，他们便能获得全额，即100%的应得福利。此外，若在完全退休年龄之后推迟领取（最晚至70岁），每推迟一年，福利金额便可增加8%。 然而，根据史蒂文斯议员的观点，对于从事体力要求较高的蓝领工人而言，为了达到这些年龄门槛而继续工作可能相当困难。 史蒂文斯议员在一份声明中表示：“密歇根州从事体力劳动的民众不应被迫等到身体彻底垮掉才退休，如果我们想要在这个国家维护劳动的尊严，就需要降低体力劳动者的退休年龄。” 该降低退休资格年龄的政策将适用于美国建筑、屋顶施工、护理及制造业等领域的从业者。根据该法案的规定，美国社会保障署（Social Security Administration）将负责制定一份符合条件的体力消耗型职业的完整清单，并每3年进行一次更新。…
9月23日纽约讯，伊朗总统马苏德·佩泽希齐扬（Masoud Pezeshkian）今天在联合国发表了一场措辞强硬的演讲，指责美国和以色列煽动全球动荡，并控诉两国对其本国平民及基础设施发动非法袭击。 佩泽希齐扬在纽约联合国大会上的这番讲话，是对美国总统特朗普（Donald Trump）的激烈回击；特朗普总统昨天在联合国发表演讲时表示，在经历了近7个月的伊朗战争后，他正在权衡是否要“彻底摧毁”伊朗。 佩泽希齐扬还反驳了特朗普一贯坚持的说法，即伊朗迫切渴望达成和平协议，且该协议很可能在11月3日中期选举结束后随即达成。 佩泽希齐扬将伊朗描绘为美国和以色列侵略行径的受害者，并坚称伊朗将继续战斗“直至最后一息”。 佩泽希齐扬在演讲中强调说：“美国总统称我们为恐怖分子。而我们自己才是恐怖主义的受害者。难道我们是不稳定的根源吗？我们不过是寻求独立自主地生活，难道是我们造成了不稳定？那些实施恐怖主义和犯罪行径的人，难道反倒成了和平与稳定的捍卫者？” 佩泽希基扬的此次亮相联合国具有历史意义：此前从未有领导人在本国与美国处于交战状态时，亲自在联合国发表演讲。 佩泽希基扬在演讲伊始时举起了几张照片，指责美国和以色列的轰炸造成了100多名伊朗儿童的死亡。2月28日伊朗战争爆发首日，一枚“战斧”巡航导弹击中了伊朗南部米纳布（Minab）的一所小学，造成150多人死亡，其中包括约120名儿童，尽管不同消息来源给出的伤亡数字各不相同。据《纽约时报》3月份报道，一项初步军事调查认定美国应对此次袭击负责，但五角大楼尚未公布其官方结论。 本月早些时候，联合国伊朗问题独立国际实况调查团表示，有“合理理由”相信美国犯下了战争罪，理由是其发动的“无差别攻击”导致平民伤亡，其中包括针对那所学校的袭击。 特朗普总统在9月22日的演讲中，猛烈抨击联合国人权理事会是“懦弱的伪君子”，并指责该机构在批评美国移民和跨性别政策的同时，却对“针对基督徒的迫害”鲜少置评。 特朗普总统还公开表示，他面临一个“重大抉择”：是与伊朗达成协议，还是“彻底消灭这个伊斯兰共和国，而且要速战速决”。他表示：“我是该把他们打入地狱，让他们毫无生还机会，也断送其未来重现辉煌或延续后代的希望吗？” 9月22日晚些时候，特朗普总统称，美国官员在联合国会议期间与伊朗特使举行了一场“非常好的”会谈，持续了3个小时。 伊朗外交部发言人伊斯梅尔·巴盖伊（Esmail Baghaei）随后表示，会谈实际持续了“大约2个小时”。巴盖伊在社交平台X上发文称，伊朗官员在会谈中提出了恢复与美外交关系的“明确且透明”的条件。…
9月23日芝加哥讯，美国快餐巨头麦当劳（McDonald's）首席执行官克里斯·肯普钦斯基（Chris Kempczinski）今天表示，预计客流量持平和高通胀将继续给餐饮业带来压力。 肯普钦斯基在接受消费者新闻与商业频道（CNBC）节目《华尔街财经》(Squawk on the Street）采访时说：“我曾与团队探讨过一点：我们不应再把当前形势称为‘艰难环境’，而应将其视为‘常态环境’，因为展望未来，我们预计情况并不会发生改变。” 肯普钦斯基多年来一直提醒投资者和分析师，麦当劳及整个餐饮业正面临“充满挑战的环境”。这家汉堡连锁巨头在最近一个季度的财报中显示，受美国国内门店客流量下滑影响，其美国同店销售额仅增长了0.8%。 根据美国全国餐馆协会（National Restaurant Association）的调查，在2025年8月至2026年7月期间，受访的餐饮业经营者报告称，除一个月外，其余每个月的客流量均出现净下滑。面对从汽油到食品杂货等各类生活成本的上涨，美国消费者减少了外出就餐的频率，并对不断上调的菜单价格表现出抵触情绪。 为了吸引顾客，麦当劳及其竞争对手纷纷采取了打折促销策略。然而，面临成本上涨压力的不仅仅是美国消费者。包括麦当劳及其特许经营商在内的餐饮运营商，正面临着美国牛肉价格飙升的局面。 肯普钦斯基指出，在公司最大的几个市场，过去五年间牛肉成本几乎翻了一番。此外，劳动力和基建等其他成本也有所上升，进一步挤压了利润空间。 肯普钦斯基表示：“我们发现，通胀具有普遍的粘性，这种粘性不仅存在于美国，在全球范围内也是如此。” 面对日益严峻的经营环境，麦当劳正着力从竞争对手手中争夺客源。 肯普钦斯基表示：“在这样的环境下，最关键的是要能够赢得市场份额，你必须能够真正从竞争对手那里抢占增长空间。”…
9月23日，美国国务院发言人办公室在联合国大会期间宣布民用核能倡议时表示，今天在纽约联合国大会期间，继美国、日本和大韩民国举行三边部长级会议之后，美国欣然宣布确立一项实施计划，以支持三方今年7月7日在安卡拉签署的《关于在其他国家部署小型模块化反应堆的合作备忘录》。 该《合作备忘录》及《实施计划》通过制定雄心勃勃的议程，致力于推进小型模块化反应堆机组的部署以满足日益增长的全球能源需求，从而维护我们的共同安全利益。 此外，美国国务院常务副国务卿克里斯托弗·兰道（Christopher Landau）出席了一项关键产业倡议的签署并对此表示欢迎，该倡议在美国通用电气维诺瓦（GE Vernova)、日本日立（Hitachi)、韩国三星物产（Samsung C&T）和波兰欣索斯绿色能源公司 （SGE）之间建立了合作框架，旨在推动BWRX-300小型模块化反应堆在欧洲的部署。 通过汇聚美国、日本、韩国和波兰的行业领军企业，这个国际联盟旨在为欧洲数百万民众提供可靠的基荷核电，并在未来几年推动超过1500亿美元的反应堆投资。 该重要的行业里程碑彰显了各国发挥相辅相成的产业优势所能产生的影响力，以加速部署符合最高核安全、核安保和防扩散标准的反应堆，这与卢比奥国务卿今年早些时候与日本和韩国对口官员签署的三边谅解备忘录所体现的更广泛的目标保持一致。
9月22日，美国联邦医疗保险和医疗补助服务中心（CMS）今天表示，该中心上个月取消了约31.5万份《平价医疗法案》（ACA）医保交易平台的注册申请，涉及约76万人；此次行动针对的是未经授权的注册行为，美国副总统万斯（JD Vance）将此形容为“猖獗的欺诈”。 根据美国联邦医疗保险和医疗补助服务中心发布的消息，此次执法行动还包括核实约41.9万人的身份，以确保他们是美国合法居民，并符合收入门槛要求，从而有资格享受“奥巴马医保”(ACA）公共交易平台提供的福利。 由美国副总统万斯领导的白宫“消除欺诈特别工作组”主导了此次取消注册的行动，据估计，此举将节省约22亿美元由纳税人资助的补贴。万斯（Vance）在今天的简报会上发言时指责拜登政府维持着一套助长欺诈行为的体系。 万斯说：“在这个体系中，一方面，中介机构因将患者引入该系统而获得报酬；另一方面，政府甚至不去核实注册人员是否真正符合项目资格。结果会怎样？当然是猖獗的欺诈行为。” 此次行动正值特朗普政府广泛指控美国医疗保健项目存在欺诈行为，并收紧联邦与州合作的医疗补助计划（Medicaid）的资金与资格限制之际。目前尚不清楚这31.5万个注册案例中有多少涉及不符合承保资格的人员，也不清楚拜登政府是否未对这些人的注册资格进行核实。 美国联邦医疗保险和医疗补助服务中心（CMS）负责人梅赫梅特·奥兹（Mehmet Oz）博士在今天的简报会上指出，目前“奥巴马医保”（Obamacare）体系中约有35%的人员“从未真正使用过该项目”。他表示，这些人既未开过处方药，也未看过医生。 该法律包含一项针对个人的强制规定，即要求大多数人购买保险；这在一定程度上是因为，如果参保群体中包含更多健康状况较好且医疗服务使用量较少的人，整个系统的成本负担就会减轻。然而，美国自2019年以来，针对未参保者的联邦罚款金额一直为零。 由时任总统巴拉克·奥巴马（Barack Obama）签署的《平价医疗法案》（Affordable Care Act)，俗称“奥巴马医保”所设立的保险计划，根据美国家庭规模和预计年收入提供补贴。特朗普总统在首个任期内未能废除该法案，但他曾提议进行修改，这将导致这些保险计划的保障范围缩减。 奥兹指出，在新冠病毒疫情期间，随着联邦政府支出激增，一些不法分子盯上了《平价医疗法案》市场（ACA marketplace）的补贴。他列举了参保人数的变化：从疫情前的约1000万人增加到疫情后的约2200万人，并认为拜登政府监管不力及执法缺失导致了违规参保现象的出现。…
9月22日，特朗普政府今天提交给美国国会的一份通知称，美国计划在未来12个月内额外接收多达17500名来自南非的白人阿非利卡人（Afrikaners）作为难民。 美国国务院告知美国国会，特朗普政府计划为2027财年分配17500个难民接收名额，这些名额将“主要”提供给阿非利卡人。特朗普总统曾声称该群体因其白人身份而遭受压迫。2027财年将于今年10月开始。 尽管特朗普政府实际上已针对全球大多数逃离迫害与暴力的人群叫停了美国的难民重新安置计划，但却为南非阿非利卡人设立了例外，并在过去一年半里已经安置了数千名该群体成员。 虽然特朗普政府官员将阿非利卡人描述为后种族隔离时代南非种族压迫的受害者。但南非政府则一贯否认迫害该主要来自荷兰由欧洲定居者后裔组成的少数族裔群体。 美国国务院在提交给美国国会的通知中指出：“阿非利卡人面临着农业资产被无偿没收的困境；遭受旨在瓦解就业、教育及商业领域机会平等的政府政策之害；并深受煽动针对特定种族少数群体实施过度暴力的仇恨言论之苦。” 上周，美国已对南非官员实施了新制裁，理由是这些官员被指歧视阿非利卡人。提交给美国国会的通知显示，阿非利卡人的重新安置工作预计将耗资5亿美元。 该通知指出：“美国预计，来自南非的阿非利卡人将完全融入美国社会，且融入方式将确保纳税人的资源用于美国公民；同时，美国也不预期其他国家会安置阿非利卡人。” 特朗普总统曾指称南非的阿非利卡人正面临“种族灭绝”，他去年在白宫椭圆形办公室举行的一次气氛紧张的会晤中，曾就这些说法向南非总统西里尔·拉马福萨（Cyril Ramaphosa）提出质询，并向其展示了一段聚焦该国农场主遇害事件的视频。 这些说法遭到了强烈反驳。今年早些时候，美国一挡电视节目《60分钟》（60 Minutes）播出了一篇报道，其中受访的阿非利卡人否认白人正面临“种族灭绝”的说法，并指出农场主遇害事件与南非更广泛的治安问题有关，而该问题危及着所有种族的民众。