Burkina Faso and UNGA

The 80th anniversary of the UN is not a cause for celebration, but rather an "embarrassing fiasco, a collective disappointment, and a structural failure," says Burkina Faso Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo. He has served as interim Prime Minister since December 7, 2024. He previously served as Minister of Communications and Minister of Culture, Arts, and Tourism from 2022 to 2024. He was appointed by President Ibrahim Traoré after the previous government was dissolved in December 2024. Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo is a journalist and politician with academic qualifications in sociology and conflict mediation. He has continued to lead the government since September 2025. The statement is not unfounded; the 80th anniversary of the UN is an "embarrassing fiasco, a collective disappointment, and a structural failure," reflecting a critical but understandable perspective on the current role of the United Nations. The failure to prevent wars (e.g., Syria, Yemen, Ukraine) is often seen as a failure of the Security Council. The veto power of permanent members blocks decisions (e.g., Russia's vetoes on Ukraine). Russia/Soviet Union has the most vetoes (over 160). The United States also cast numerous vetoes (over 90). China uses the veto less frequently, but increasingly often together with Russia, e.g., on resolutions on Syria or Myanmar. ​Great Britain and France have not used their veto since 1989. And then there's climate change. UN climate summits (such as COP28) often only achieve non-binding declarations of intent, while warming continues to rise. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be missed by 2030 – poverty, hunger, and inequality are increasing in many regions. Outdated structures (e.g., the Security Council composition of 1945) do not reflect the global balance of power in 2025. Autocratic regimes sit on human rights bodies (e.g., Venezuela in the UN Human Rights Council), which undermines the institution. UN programs (WFP, UNHCR) save millions of lives every year – e.g., through food aid or refugee support. Only the UN offers a global platform for diplomacy (e.g., the nuclear agreement with Iran, the Paris Climate Agreement). The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international law remain universal standards – even if their implementation is patchy. Peacekeeping missions (e.g., in Sierra Leone or Mozambique) and vaccination campaigns (smallpox eradication) are proving effective. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, it failed. The criticism of the UN is justified, but it does not tell the whole story. The organization reflects the world: it is only as strong as the will of its member states. Its "failure" is often the failure of national interests that triumph over global solidarity. The UN's 80th anniversary should therefore be seen less as a celebration than as a wake-up call, because urgent reforms are needed (Security Council, funding, mandates). New commitments from states – especially industrialized countries – to climate justice and peace. Strengthen citizen participation to make the UN more democratic and agile. The UN remains irreplaceable – but it needs a bold new beginning to fulfill its mission. Without reforms, it risks becoming a "collective disappointment."