New York, Sept. 25, 2026 (Lusa) - Equatorial Guinea has called, at the United Nations General Assembly, for more investment in Africa to develop industry and create jobs, and for two permanent seats for the continent on the UN Security Council.
«[Africa] needs investment to enable it to develop local value chains, build infrastructure, advance industrialisation, strengthen human capital, incorporate new technologies and create jobs, particularly for the continent's large young population,» emphasised the Vice-President of Equatorial Guinea during his speech on the third day of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Speaking shortly after the President of the European Council, António Costa, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue emphasised that «a more productive and industrialised Africa will be a stronger partner, which will also benefit those seeking to curb African emigration».
In his speech, which was filmed and broadcast during the general debate of the 81st UN General Assembly, the son of the President of this member state of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) recalled that when the 2030 Agenda was adopted, promises were made to «eradicate poverty, protect the planet and ensure that everyone can live in dignity, leaving no one behind».
However, he said, «poverty persists, inequalities are growing and climate change continues to worsen».
For this reason, he argued that there is a need for «an international financial architecture that facilitates productive investment, takes into account the real vulnerabilities of developing countries and supports the efforts of each nation».
On the reform of the UN Security Council – a demand made for several years, particularly by the countries of the so-called Global South – Obiang Mangue emphasised that Africa is calling for «two permanent seats with veto power, as well as two further non-permanent seats on the Security Council».
Also in his speech, he encouraged «the United States and the Republic of Cuba to continue the dialogue that will bring an end to the blockade and build a mutually beneficial relationship».
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