NAIROBI, Kenya — UN Secretary General António Guterres has criticised the global financial system for imposing disproportionately high borrowing costs on African countries, describing the situation as deeply unfair and unsustainable.
Speaking during the inauguration of the United Nations Nairobi Expansion Project in Gigiri on Monday, Guterres said African nations continue to face punitive lending conditions despite some demonstrating stronger economic growth and financial stability than developed economies.
“My voice will remain loud and clear in saying that we live in a situation that is deeply unfair,” Guterres said.
“It is not acceptable that African countries pay more than three times more than developed countries in order to obtain the loans needed for development.”
The UN chief said the existing international financial architecture continues to marginalise Africa and fails to reflect the continent’s growing economic and geopolitical importance.
“This is absolutely unacceptable,” he added.
Guterres renewed calls for reforms within major global governance institutions, including the United Nations Security Council, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank.
“There will be no justice before there will be permanent African members in the Security Council,” he said.
“There will be no justice before Africa has its rights shared in the quotas of the IMF, or in the capital of the World Bank.”
The remarks add to mounting international pressure for reforms aimed at giving African countries greater representation in global financial and political decision-making structures.
African leaders have repeatedly argued that current lending systems unfairly penalise developing economies through higher interest rates and borrowing premiums, limiting investment in infrastructure, healthcare, climate adaptation, and industrial development.
Guterres said Africa’s interests must be taken more seriously within the international financial system.
“The African continent can count on me. I will always be at your side to correct injustices,” he said.
The UN Secretary-General also praised Kenya’s growing role in continental diplomacy and economic transformation, highlighting President William Ruto as one of the leaders driving reform and innovation across Africa.
“I see transformational enthusiasm in the African continent, under which Kenya and the President of Kenya are two very clear examples,” Guterres said.
The inauguration of the Nairobi expansion project comes as Kenya hosts several major international engagements, including the Africa Forward Summit 2026, which has brought together African and European leaders, investors, and policymakers to discuss trade, development financing, climate action, and innovation partnerships.
Kenya hosts the UN headquarters in Africa at Gigiri, Nairobi, making the country a major diplomatic and multilateral hub on the continent.
