UN General Assembly
1996

Looking at current economic, social and political conditions on our continent, including the atrocities meted out to our own kith and kin, one is inclined to lose hope in the ability of Africa to achieve sustainable development. But the thrust of my message today is simple: I appeal to the international community not to abandon Africa. Even though we may be on our knees in anguish, I firmly believe that there is hope for Africa, that Africa and its people have the ability and capacity to overcome natural and self-inflicted constraints and to achieve political stability as well as reasonable economic prosperity. We have recently witnessed many changes on the continent that lend credence to Africa’s genuine 6 commitment to the New Agenda for Africa and to other plans for economic and political stability. Hence, there is still hope for Africa. My presence here is symbolic of that hope. In spite of a rebel war that still hangs over my country, and in spite of attempts to frustrate the will of the