24 Sep 2026

President Advocate Duma Boko has called for renewed multilateralism and urged world leaders to choose cooperation over division and reform a financial system that leaves developing nations behind mid mounting geopolitical friction.
Addressing the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, against a backdrop of heightened conflicts, including the Middle East crises and the Russia-Ukraine war, President Boko compared the fiery rhetoric of prior speakers with an appeal to the foundational rules of the UN Charter.

“Persistent conflicts, geopolitical tensions and growing divisions have tested trust between nations. The pertinent question is how we strengthen multilateralism so that the United Nations can deliver meaningful results for all Member States,” President Boko said.

Reflecting on the Botswana history, the President noted that no nation can afford to do it alone.

“When Botswana gained independence in 1966, we carried a founding belief that our security and prosperity would come from disciplined integration into a community of nations governed by rules that all had agreed to honour.

That is the tradition I bring to this podium representing a nation staking its existence on the promise that shared rules, faithfully observed, remain humanity’s best instrument for peace and prosperity,” he said.

He indicated that to rebuild global trust, nations must pursue a cessation of hostilities, open dialogue and strict respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity as well as equal dignity for all, regardless of size, wealth or military power.

On Africa’s economic future and its young population, President Boko called on the UN and multilateral institutions to make technology transfer, skills development and capacity-building funded priorities.

He also called for a sweeping reform of the global financial architecture to ensure more accessible development finance.

“As we will all agree, the credibility of our multilateral commitments will be properly tested in development finance.

When countries have the means to invest in their people and when international institutions respond effectively to shared threats, trust is strengthened,” he said.

On the nation’s two-decade campaign against HIV/AIDS, the President said national ownership paired with international solidarity can overcome impossible challenges.

“Our experience demonstrates that when national ownership and international solidarity converge, seemingly impossible challenges can be overcome.

This kind of practical solidarity restores confidence in multilateralism. We stand ready to share the lessons of this experience through South-South and triangular cooperation,” President Boko said. ENDS