Guterres: Time to respect Africa

The UN Secretary-General asks world leaders to share economic growth and to make the world a better place

- LOYISO SIDIMBA

UNITED Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres yesterday warned that conflicts, climate chaos, economic uncertainty, mounting debt, inequality and a collapse in global aid were inflicting massive suffering around the world.

Speaking ahead of this weekend's two-day G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg, Guterres said among the world's largest economies, the G20 can hold enormous influence to ease suffering and ensure that economic growth is widely shared as well as set the world on a better, more peaceful course for the future.

"Developing countries - in particular in Africa - are suffering from a perfect storm of shrinking fiscal space, crushing debt burden, and a global financial architecture that is failing to support - or even represent - them adequately," Guterres stated.