Every April 24, the world celebrates the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace. Once again, CAFRAD—a multilateral organization serving 45 African member states—joins in marking this important occasion and reaffirms its commitment to promoting open multilateralism that truly benefits people, and diplomacy in the service of peace and prosperity in Africa and around the world.

In a world where unilateralism is proving insufficient due to the complexity, global nature, and multifaceted character of today’s challenges—where strategic competition among nations undermines global peace—the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter must guide global efforts in favor of human rights, peace, and development for all. Yet, conflicts, climate change, poverty, and inequality make this task more difficult. Rivalries, geopolitical transitions, tensions, trade wars, and the race for technological innovation—especially military innovations—often take precedence over cooperation, and divisions hinder dialogue. Multilateralism and diplomacy were created precisely to address such crises and challenges. Therefore, it is urgent—indeed imperative—to revive the spirit of global cooperation in order to restore trust, reduce tensions, and promote peace.

In his message on the occasion of the 2024 International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the importance of multilateralism, stating that no country can face and overcome today’s global challenges in isolation. Thus, dialogue, international cooperation, and multilateral approaches are essential conditions for building a fairer and more peaceful world. Indeed, the New Agenda for Peace, adopted in July 2023 as part of Our Common Agenda (Policy Brief No. 9), offers a comprehensive approach to addressing the root causes of both conventional and asymmetric conflicts, with the potential to restore trust in multilateralism. Only strengthened international cooperation will enable us to meet the global challenges and threats we face.

In the Pact for the Future, adopted by General Assembly resolution on September 22, 2024, world leaders affirmed their belief that a better future for all humanity is possible, including for those living in poverty or in vulnerable situations. Through the actions we take today, we commit ourselves to building a safe, peaceful, just, equitable, inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous world—a world in which well-being, security, dignity, and a healthy planet are guaranteed for all human beings.

On this symbolic day, the Secretary-General called on world leaders to fully commit to strengthening dialogue, rebuilding trust, and working meaningfully toward a peaceful future. In 2025, this message is more relevant than ever.

Intergovernmental and international organizations embody the concrete expression of states’ willingness to cooperate and practice multilateralism. International organizations—including CAFRAD—serve as hubs for generating ideas, initiatives, and recommendations that can guide states’ actions toward shared goals of peace, sustainable development, and the promotion of rights. In the specific case of CAFRAD, this includes the promotion of training, research, and documentation in support of the transformation, modernization, and ownership of governance in Africa—governance created by Africans, for Africans.

Today, thanks to multilateralism, many achievements have been made—such as disease eradication, disarmament agreements, and the protection of human rights. Multilateralism is a call for solidarity among states, and for adopting a collective mindset that serves one another while protecting each nation’s sovereignty.

Now more than ever, CAFRAD is committed to the path of cooperation, strategic partnership, and the strengthening of its network of public, private, technical, and intellectual partners in pursuit of its new strategic vision: to become a pioneer of Africa’s comprehensive transformation and a school for training African leaders who are aware of tomorrow’s challenges.