Let me begin by thanking the Kingdom of Morocco and the Mo Ibrahim Foundation for convening us once again in the great city of Marrakech.
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This platform has become much more than an annual event. In a world where clarity is often lost, what does true governance look like today?
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The Mo Ibrahim Foundation reminds us that integrity and transparency still matter.
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That governance must serve the people, not power.
Excellencies,
We meet today at a pivotal moment.
We have five years left to keep our promise on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
And this year marks the start of the second Ten-Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063 — Africa’s blueprint for transformation.
Together, these milestones demand urgency, action and above all, leadership that delivers.
Yet we gather in the midst of a turbulent global landscape, a world in crisis from every angle: the climate emergency, conflicts old and new, rising inequality, crushing debt, backsliding on human rights, and a worrying trend of narrowing civic space and democratic erosion worldwide.
Across too many societies, the rule of law is being weakened, replaced by the rule of force. We are witnessing a world of growing impunity, where leadership is increasingly unaccountable and public trust is under strain.
Africa is not immune to these pressures. But it is also not defined by them. In fact, Africa is responding with agency, Ìýwith determination, innovation, and visionary leadership.
Still, progress is being made. ÌýAcross the continent, we see shining examples of good governance, vibrant civic engagement, institutional resilience, and genuine socio-economic advancement.
But let us be clear, the gap between what is possible and the lived reality is far too wide. Leaders and institutions must be responsive to people and measured by their tangible impact on people's lives, not merely by their existence.
And when governance falls short, it is often women and children who bear the greatest burdens, especially during conflict and crisis. Yet, time and again, it is these very women who step up, leading peacebuilding efforts, rebuilding fractured communities, and holding societies together.
Their suffering must be acknowledged. Their leadership must be celebrated. And where governance has failed to protect them, accountability must follow.
Africa’s economic transformation will not be a gift from outside; it will be kindled from within.
By unlocking intra-African trade.
By adding value domestically and investing meaningfully in Africa’s greatest resource – its people.
This must be a new era of trade and economy, built on inclusion, youth-led innovation, and fair access to markets.
And no conversation on governance is complete without Africa’s greatest asset, its young people.
They are not waiting for permission.
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They are building movements, sharing innovations that are changing lives, and leading by example.
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We must stop treating youth as the future and recognize them as leaders of today. This intergenerational transition is already underway, and we must support it with intent to accelerate it.
But none of this is possible without resources. Africa is paying the highest price to borrow, at a time when investments in development and resilience are most critical.
Yet, these investments cannot succeed in a vacuum. They require strong, inclusive, and accountable institutions, the kind envisioned in SDG 16, to deliver justice, ensure participation, and uphold the rule of law.
We need a system that supports public investment, protects fiscal space, and enables development. A system that delivers debt relief, clamps down on illicit flows, and taxes multinational profits fairly.
Because development cannot be top-down. It must be rooted in people's agency — and built on institutions that reflect their voice, protect their rights, and serve the public good.
This is what leadership must look like in our time.
Â鶹´«Ã½ remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting Africa’s development priorities- advancing the SDGs, operationalizing the Pact for the Future, and mobilizing resources through the SDG Stimulus.
We work hand-in-hand with the African Union as we jointly implement Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Together, we are advancing youth empowerment, gender equality, economic transformation, and peacebuilding. And we are ready to support bold, African-led reforms rooted in justice, sustainability, human rights and shared prosperity.
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Friends,
So let us meet this moment. Let us govern differently, with integrity, with inclusion, and with an intergenerational purpose.
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Let us reclaim governance as a force for dignity, equity, and lasting peace.
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Let us act in ways that respond to people’s needs, uphold their rights, and restore their trust.
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Africa is not waiting, and the world must catch up.
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Let’s rise to that challenge together.
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Thank you.
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