(Seychelles News Agency) - New United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres should create a UN with an inclusive leadership, Seychelles' President Danny Faure said in remarks at a high-level working breakfast at the African Union (AU). 

Faure said a new inclusive leadership by the United Nations is the only means to ensure that 1 billion Africans are not marginalised in decision making that affects the African continent. He called for a pragmatic approach to the partnership between the UN and Africa.

Guterres, a former prime minister of Portugal, officially assumed his role as the ninth Secretary-General of the UN on January 3rd, succeeding Ban Ki-moon of South Korea, who served from January 2007 to December 2016.

The head of state of Seychelles, a group of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean, is attending the 28th Assembly of the AU, which started on Monday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In his remarks, Faure welcomed the meeting, describing it as an opportunity for enhanced partnership between the UN and AU. He commended the efforts towards Agenda 2030 and the need to have one reporting system. 

“Reforms should also take into account a new breed of leadership that is committed to reforms,” said Faure.

The Agenda 2030 for sustainable development was decided by heads of states and governments on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the UN in September 2015. 

This is the first appearance at the African Union for President Faure, who was sworn in office in October last year, succeeding James Michel who resigned.