Global order under strain, Africa must protect multilateral cooperation - Hannah Tetteh

Hannah Tetteh, United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, warned at the 21st Kronti ne Akwamu Public Lecture by CDD that the weakening of the global multilateral system could have serious consequences for Africa, particularly countries with limited influence on the international stage. She stated, "If the multilateral system continues to fracture and deteriorate, it will be to the detriment of countries with less power and influence on the global stage."

Mrs. Tetteh said recent developments threatening the foundations of the rules-based global order require collective action to preserve institutions that support peace, security, and prosperity. She explained that the multilateral system, established through the United Nations Charter in 1945, was designed around the principle that global challenges require collective responses. She noted that institutions such as the United Nations, the African Union, and regional bodies including ECOWAS have evolved to address challenges that transcend national borders, quoting former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan who said: "The challenges of our age are problems without passports."