Trust Deficit, Broken Governance,Weak Social Contract, Cause Of Coups, Underdev’t In Africa – UN

The United Nations (UN) has linked the recent wave of unconstitutional changes of government across and unsustainable development in West Africa to trust deficits, broken governance and weakening of the social contract in the continent.

The UN mentioned that turbulent unconstitutional changes of government represent a “worst-case scenario” for sustainable development across West Africa and the Sahel.

The UN said the problem also represent a major barrier to the vision of peace and prosperity put forward by Agenda 2063.

This was recently disclosed by the Deputy Secretary General, UN, Amina Mohammed in Abuja while delivering a lecture titled: “Unconstitutional change of Government and attainment of the African Union’s 2063 Agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – The case of West Africa and the Sahel sub-region” on the occasion of the 2024 Annual Lecture of Association of Foreign Relations Professionals of Nigeria (AFRPN).

According to Mohammed, the topic is timely and it’s also a strong reminder that political crisis and the ensuing instability it often creates, does not emerge out of thin air.

“There are root causes. It is strongly linked with lack of progress on sustainable, inclusive development. It is the result of choices that the world makes or fails to make in relation to supporting countries as they heal divisions and climb the development ladder.

“Together, we would need to build pathways for solutions that can not only bridge political and social divides within West Africa and the Sahel but can spur development and provide hope and a life of dignity for the over 100 million people who call our sub-region home,” she noted.

The UN Deputy Secretary General expressed concern on how unconstitutional change of government poses a great threat to the bold vision of peace and prosperity put forward by Agenda 2063.

“Here in our region, one of the many results of these structural failures is the trust deficit, broken governance and weakening of the social contract giving cause to the current cascading unconstitutional changes of government in West Africa and beyond.

“Each and every one of these changes is a stark reminder of the deeper and more structural issues that we must address as a global community. Let us remind ourselves that we are living in a world deeply connected, by its norms and standards to financial systems and trade.

“These turbulent unconstitutional changes also represent a “worst-case scenario” for sustainable development across West Africa and the Sahel — as we draw closer to the deadline to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, many of which are slipping from reach.

“They also represent a major barrier to the bold vision of peace and prosperity put forward by Agenda 2063,” she stated.

She therefore urged Africans to have a common front as that is the only way to secure the future of the region.

“The importance of leadership, especially that of women, cannot be overemphasized. Leadership must be seen, nurtured and sustained from the home to the pulpit.

“If African solutions to African challenges and opportunities are to be more than rhetoric, we must have an insistent and unified voice within the G20 and other global platforms.

“It is essential that our collective voice and unified position shape our regional future. Our Continent stands at a crossroads as the world appears to have taken its gaze off Africa.

“We may appear down, but we are far from out. African leaders must continue to forge a path towards delivering our vision for the continent enshrined in Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda. Leaders must demonstrate unwavering unity and a firm commitment to uphold our values and beliefs.

“They must stand together, with no fight between them, determined to live up to the courage of their convictions.

“In this spirit, the United Nations will continue to work hand in hand with Africa to achieve sustainable peace and development. Let us seize this moment as an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to all our people,”

Mohamed appealed.

AFRPN consists of retired and serving Nigerian diplomats and all stakeholders in the business of Foreign Relations. The association is poised to and has been impacting the foreign policy options of Nigeria in a positive way from the perspectives of intellectual brain storming exercise of its experienced members and practitioners on topical issues through lectures, workshops and publications as well as mentoring of upcoming diplomats.