1. Allow me, at the outset of my statement, to convey to you the warm congratulations of H.E. Mr. Brice Clotaire OLIGUI NGUEMA, President of the Gabonese Republic, on your election to preside over this 81st session of the General Assembly.
2. I wish to assure you from the outset of my delegation’s full support and to express the hope that your mandate will be marked by listening, dialogue and the tireless pursuit of compromise in the service of international peace and cooperation.
3. At the conclusion of the second term of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, the President of the Gabonese Republic pays him a sustained tribute for his constant commitment to multilateralism and to the defence of the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.
4. Gabon fully associates itself with the theme of this session: “Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations Organization serving all”.
5. This theme comes at a decisive moment in international history. Our world is beset by numerous, profound and interdependent crises. Armed conflicts are tending to drag on, geopolitical tensions are intensifying, inequalities persist, climate disruption is accelerating and humanitarian emergencies are multiplying.
6. To these challenges must be added the economic and social consequences of successive crises, food insecurity, forced displacement of populations, the risks associated with cybercrime and the upheavals brought about by emerging technologies.
7. These realities severely test the capacity of the international community to act in a concerted manner.
8. In this uncertain environment, only one value can still guide us: trust.
9. For Gabon, restoring trust among nations requires, more than ever, a return to the fundamental principles of international law in general, and of the Charter of the United Nations in particular.
10. In this spirit, my country reaffirms its attachment to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs and to respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States.
11. And on the strength of this affirmation, Gabon once again welcomes the adoption of resolution 2797 (2025), which is giving new momentum to the settlement of the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara, on the exclusive basis of the autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty.
12. Restoring trust is based above all on concrete action enabling us to address together the global challenges relating to peace and security, climate change, sustainable development and pandemics.
13. Therefore, in the face of human tragedies throughout the world, and particularly in Africa, greater collective engagement is indispensable.
14. This requirement for inclusiveness is necessary, in particular, in the Gulf of Guinea, a maritime area whose importance for international trade is increasing every day.
15. Consequently, Gabon advocates a substantial strengthening of security in this strategic area, the bedrock of shared prosperity.
16. Gabon, in its capacity as a member of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, underlines the urgency of implementing Security Council resolution 2719 relating to the financing of peace support operations on the continent.
17. Honouring this commitment would help consolidate peace in Africa and strengthen cooperation between the United Nations Security Council and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union.
18. Trust also depends on respect for commitments made within the regional framework. Under the very high impetus of His Excellency Brice Clotaire OLIGUI NGUEMA, President of the Republic, Head of State, Head of Government, Gabon has made dialogue, peace and respect for its international commitments the guiding principles of its diplomatic action.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
19. Managing transformation, as our theme invites us to do, also means knowing how to guide change at the national level.
20. In this regard, under the leadership of the President of the Republic, Mr. Brice Clotaire OLIGUI NGUEMA, Gabon is continuing its transformation at the social, environmental and economic levels, as set out in our National Growth and Development Plan, the PNCD 2026-2030.
21. Gabon’s development plan also places emphasis on improving the living conditions of our populations, notably through new administrative, hospital and educational infrastructure, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
22. In view of the foregoing, my country calls for a renewed partnership based on mutual respect, shared responsibility and concrete commitments. This partnership must promote the local processing of our natural resources, the diversification of our economy, the transfer of technologies and the strengthening of national capacities.
23. Restoring trust also requires a reform of the international financial architecture, so as to make it more equitable, more inclusive and better adapted to current challenges.
24.
Without this overhaul, it becomes almost impossible to mobilize funds linked to development, particularly those relating to green financing.
25. Therefore, Gabon, a country with extensive forest cover and a low rate of deforestation, a major carbon sequestration sink, calls for better recognition of this contribution to the regulation of the global climate and of the ecosystem services rendered to humanity. These must be appreciated at their true value and give entitlement to fair, adequate, predictable and sustainable financing.
26. While it is true that digital transformation offers considerable possibilities, it nevertheless entails risks: infringement of privacy, disinformation, cybercrime, as well as the irresponsible use of emerging technologies.
27. The absence of an efficient international legal framework gives free rein to all these abuses, posing a direct threat to the security of our States and to the fundamental rights of citizens.
28. Already suffering from these multifaceted harms, Gabon has had to undertake more appropriate and secure regulation of the digital sector and artificial intelligence, through temporary, proportionate measures motivated solely by the imperative of preserving our fellow citizens.
29. Our objective remains the construction of an open, safe digital ecosystem that respects freedoms, in perfect harmony with our international commitments.
30. For the United Nations to deliver results for all, it cannot ignore the debts of history. Gabon therefore welcomes the adoption of United Nations General Assembly resolution 80/250 on the slave trade in Africans, characterizing it as the gravest crime against humanity.
31. An organization that delivers results is also an organization that knows how to reform itself from within. The United Nations must therefore demonstrate its ability to adapt to the international context and to address effectively the challenges facing the world.
32. This determination for institutional transformation must take into account the urgency of reforming the Security Council. Indeed, Africa must occupy the place that is rightfully its own within this very closed circle of permanent members.
33. For Gabon, there can be no legitimate global governance without the equitable participation of Africa in decision-making relating to international peace and security.
34. Gabon’s vision is that of an inclusive and reformed multilateralism that takes into account the aspirations of peoples, particularly those of women and young people. It is within this framework that the fundamental right of every State to chart its own path must be guaranteed.
35. It is in the name of this principle that Gabon reaffirms here its support for Cuba. Gabon joins the repeated calls by many States for the lifting of the embargo.
36. I should like to conclude by saying that Gabon, faithful to its regional and international commitments, and confident in a more serene future for all, based on trust, intends to contribute to building a new global edifice, more peaceful, more just, more equitable and more united.
I thank you.