The 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York brought global attention to the ongoing Sudan crisis, with allegations of chemical weapon use by the Sudanese Army emerging during high-level meetings. The African Union Commission Chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, co-chaired a meeting with the United States on September 23, 2026, focusing on the conflict and its humanitarian impact.
Meanwhile, other nations also engaged in diplomatic efforts during the assembly. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iran’s President Pezeshkian reaffirmed their bilateral ties during a meeting on the sidelines. Nigeria and the United States signed a pact to boost American investment in Nigeria’s mining sector, with the agreement finalized at the Nigeria Mission House in New York.
The UNGA also saw commitments from Mwale Medical and Technology City (MMTC), which secured over $4.3 billion in investment to expand its smart-city model across Africa. Additionally, Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama called for stronger international action on the Gaza conflict, supporting a two-state solution for Palestine.
As discussions continued, South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola, emphasized the need for Africa to have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council to address its conflicts directly.
