South African president Cyril Ramaphosa has called on African countries to strengthen unity, democratic governance and economic cooperation to confront rising global instability, climate change and migration challenges.
Addressing the opening of the seventh legislature of the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand on Monday, Ramaphosa said Africa must speak with one voice to safeguard its interests and accelerate development.
He said the continent continues to face the effects of armed conflict, global economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and climate change, making closer cooperation more important than ever.
Ramaphosa urged the Pan-African Parliament to uphold democracy, constitutionalism and accountability while ensuring African Union commitments translate into tangible improvements in people’s lives.
He identified access to clean water and sanitation as one of Africa’s most urgent challenges, calling on national parliaments to strengthen legislation, oversee public spending and hold governments accountable for service delivery.
On trade, Ramaphosa described the African Continental Free Trade Area as a key driver of growth, saying African countries must remove barriers to trade, modernise customs systems and improve transport and logistics to unlock the continent’s economic potential.
“Governments must distinguish between lawful migrants and illegal immigration while rejecting violence and xenophobia,” he said.
He called for stronger immigration management alongside efforts to tackle poverty, conflict and unemployment, which drive migration.
Ramaphosa also renewed calls for reform of global institutions, including the United Nations Security Council, saying Africa deserves greater representation.
He urged African leaders to turn continental agreements into action, saying history would judge them by the Africa they build rather than the speeches they deliver.
