Speaking on the sidelines of the 39th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Antonio Guterres said Africa is confronting some of the world's "hardest challenges" with determination and resilience.

"Not miracles, but steady practical work to solve real problems in an international environment that is more polarized, more unpredictable and more volatile than at any time since the end of the Cold War," Guterres told reporters.

He said that from regional integration efforts to investments in clean energy and infrastructure, the African continent is witnessing progress, "sometimes unevenly, sometimes slowly, but it is happening."

Guterres highlighted the growing UN–AU partnership in advancing peace and security, financial justice, and climate action.

He noted ongoing crises in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Sahel, and the Horn of Africa, describing them as complex conflicts involving multiple actors.

While Africa hosts some of the world's fastest-growing economies, many countries remain fiscally constrained, with debt burdens and high borrowing costs limiting investment in education, healthcare, and jobs.

He said it was deeply unjust that, despite the legacy of colonialism, Africa still faces a fundamentally unfair global financial system and called for developing countries to have a stronger voice in international financial institutions.

Concerning climate action, Guterres said that despite Africa's minimal contribution to climate change, the continent is paying the highest price through droughts, floods, hunger, and deadly heat, while receiving insufficient support to adapt and transition to clean energy.