In this Straight Talk Africa, host Shaka Ssali explores the significance of having an African at the helm of the United Nations General Assembly. He is joined by Johanna Leblanc, a lawyer and national security and foreign affairs legal strategist and by Ambassador Sidi Sanneh Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Gambia.
The newly-elected United Nations General Assembly President is Nigerian Tijjani Muhammad-Bande. He is pledging to focus on "peace and prosperity" for the most vulnerable. The 61 year-old Muhammad-Bande, a political scientist, former university professor and diplomat, says he will also focus on the promotion of human rights and the empowerment of women and youth. Muhammad-Bande is also keen on hastening the long-delayed reform process of the United Nations Security Council, to ensure that the powerful UN organ is more democratic and efficient.