Ivory Coast, Fiji and Senegal demand “fairer” multilateralism at the UN

Published at: 24/09/2026 06:17 PM

During his speech to the United Nations General Assembly, the President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, made a firm call to restore international trust and transform multilateralism to respond to the multiplication of armed conflicts, the climate crisis and deep global inequalities.

He also warned that the world is going through a “crisis of interstate and institutional trust” that jeopardizes the original promise of the United Nations Charter. In this regard, he urged moving from the logic of force to dialogue and international law.

“We need a fairer, more inclusive and more effective multilateralism. Facing our challenges requires bridges, not walls. Dialogue, not confrontation. Cooperation, not isolation,” he emphasized after assuring that collective work builds peace.

For his part, the President of the Republic of Fiji, Ratu Naiqama Tawakecolati Lalabalavu, warned that the increase in geopolitical rivalries, climate crises and technological changes demand multilateralism based on tangible results and on the fulfilment of the commitments made.

“Trust is not restored with declarations; it is restored when commitments are fulfilled, when international law is consistently applied and when people can see and feel the results of multilateral action in their daily lives,” he said.

He affirmed that international law is not optional, and that peace is not guaranteed only through power. He stressed that, for small States, the principles of the UN Charter, such as sovereign equality, territorial integrity and peaceful settlement, represent the protection of peoples.

Peace Diplomacy

For his part, the Vice President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, His Excellency Mr. Tiémoko Meyliet Koné, called for returning prominence to peace diplomacy and to revitalize multilateralism as the fundamental tool for resolving global crises.

He warned that the multilateral system is going through a critical test, profoundly weakened by a gradual erosion of trust not only between nations, but also in the very institutions responsible for ensuring international order.

Faced with this scenario, he stressed that it is imperative to consolidate effective responses that restore the international scene through cooperation and concerted action. “It is imperative that we consolidate appropriate solutions, giving priority to dialogue and reviving trust, a trust that must be matched by the capacity to provide concrete solutions and to treat each State, large or small, under the principle of equality,” he emphasized.

Mazo News Team