The Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union (AU) to the United Nations (UN) On November 26, 2025, hosted a one-day retreat for the African Group of Permanent Representatives to the UN. The retreat provided a platform to deliberate and exchange views on the UN80 Initiative, under the theme: “Strategic African Response to the UN80 Reform Initiative.” Participants included Deputy Permanent Representatives (DPRs), experts, African Group Coordinators of United Nation General Assembly (UNGA) Committees, and staff from the AU Permanent Observer Mission.

Welcoming the participants, H.E. Amb. Tommo Monthe, Permanent Representative of Cameroon to the UN and Dean of the African Group, who chaired the 2025 African Group Committee on the Retreat Committee, highlighted the context, objectives, and expected outcomes of the discussions on the UN80 reform initiative. He emphasized that this initiative represents a pivotal moment for the future of multilateralism and the positioning of African Member States within the global governance framework. Amb. Monthe stressed that the success of this effort hinges on the active participation and commitment of all African Member States, working collectively to advance equity, justice, and inclusive development.

The keynote address at the opening of the retreat was delivered by H.E. Amb. Ekitela Lokaale, Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations and Chair of the African Group for November 2025. Additional remarks were made by Ambassador Sofia Borges, Chief of Cabinet to the President of the General Assembly (PGA), who spoke on behalf of the PGA, and H.E. Amb. Mohamed Edrees, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the UN, who warmly welcomed the participants.

The Permanent Representatives received briefings throughout the retreat from Experts on the revised estimate of the 2026 UN programme budget, the mandate implementation review, and the structural reform and programme realignment of the UN architecture.

During the interactive session that followed, Amb. Tommo reiterated the need to use this retreat as a platform for forging unified positions, underlining that, through solidarity and strategic engagement, African Member States can help shape a more representative and effective United Nations for the future.

African Group Chair, Amb. Ekitela Lokaale, underscored the significance of the retreat, emphasizing that the UN80 Reform Initiative carries profound implications for Africa, the Global South, and the future of multilateralism. He highlighted that Africa approaches UN80 not as a passive recipient of the reform but as an equal stakeholder dedicated to shaping a more effective, inclusive, and representative United Nations.

Amb. Lokaale also recalled that the UN Secretary-General has launched a comprehensive reform effort, the UN80 Initiative, structured around three interconnected workstreams:
a) Operational efficiencies and improvements,
b) Mandate implementation review, and
c) Structural realignment

He highlighted that this initiative, is described by the Secretary-General as “a moment of transformation, an effort to build a stronger, more agile, responsive and resilient United Nations”

At the end of the retreat, the African Group presented farewell messages to H.E Ambassador Osama Abdel Khalek, Permanent Representative of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the UN, and H.E Ambassador Harold Agyemag, Permanent Representative of the republic of Ghana to the UN.

Source: African Union