Mohamed Ould Ghazouani highlights continent’s ‘tremendous efforts to achieve Agenda 2063’ plan for development and economic growth But conflict, climate change and debt burdens are causing slowdown in development, he warns NEW YORK CITY: Stagnating progress in efforts to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals is holding back African nations and the wider world, Mauritania’s president told the UN as he appealed for reforms of the international system to “give Africa a voice.” Speaking on Monday at the organization’s headquarters in New York City, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani said that despite setbacks, the African Union and its member states have “made tremendous efforts to achieve Agenda 2063,” a blueprint for sustainable development and economic growth on the continent. The day before his address, UN member states voted to adopt the “Pact of the Future,” an initiative designed to bring multilateralism “back from the brink” and revive progress toward achieving the SDGs. “The crises faced by our world recently present a challenge to our common future,” said Ghazouani, who chairs the African Union. “If we continue to (attempt to) achieve the SDGs following the same track, using the same mechanisms, following the same pace, within the foreseeable future we will not be able either to eradicate poverty or to achieve peace and security, or to restore the environmental balance, or create the sustainable development we want.” Authorities in Mauritania have sought to battle violence, terrorism, vulnerabilities and poverty, and have worked to ensure the economic integration of Africa, he added. But progress in efforts to achieve the SDGs, regionally and internationally, are “not up to standard,” Ghazouani warned, as he highlighted the regression in development because of “wars, conflict, climate change and the debt burden.” Imbalances in international governance have also played a part in the stagnation of progress, he added. “It has been incumbent on the international community to find solutions, effective and efficient solutions, that will establish a common agenda to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs,” he said. Reform of the international financial architecture and the UN Security Council remain a priority for his country and continent, Ghazouani continued. This would “allow our continent to have a voice so its priorities will be given due consideration in the international agenda,” he said. “We also call (for efforts) to address the debt issue, address environmental needs, enhance international cooperation and ensure international peace and security, so together we can take our planet away from the collapse that it is experiencing.”