ITUC-Africa Urges World Leaders to Prioritise Peace and Dev

By Atlantic Reports

The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) has called on world leaders to prioritise peace, diplomacy and human development over military confrontation and increasing defence expenditure.

The organisation warned that escalating armed conflicts, civilian casualties and violations of international law were threatening global stability and undermining human dignity.

Its General Secretary, Akhator Odigie, made the call in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, November 9, 2026, urging governments to redirect resources towards peace, social protection and sustainable economic development.

ITUC-Africa represents more than 18 million workers across Africa.

Rising military expenditure raises concern

Odigie cited figures showing that global military expenditure reached a record $2.887 trillion in 2025, representing a 41 per cent increase over the preceding decade.

He also said military spending in Africa increased by 8.5 per cent to $58.2 billion, even as resources for development and humanitarian assistance continued to decline.

According to him, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reported that official development assistance fell by 23.1 per cent in 2025, describing it as the sharpest annual contraction on record.

He warned that further reductions were projected for 2026, creating additional pressure on humanitarian organisations already struggling to provide essential assistance.

Odigie argued that governments were committing enormous resources to military preparedness while millions of people lacked access to basic necessities.

Sudan's humanitarian crisis highlights funding gaps

The ITUC-Africa chief cited the humanitarian situation in Sudan, where 15.4 million people were reported to require emergency shelter and essential household items, according to a United Nations warning issued on November 6.

He said available resources were sufficient to enable humanitarian agencies to prioritise assistance for only about one in 10 people requiring support.

He warned that prolonged conflicts were worsening displacement, destroying livelihoods and placing additional pressure on vulnerable communities.

African workers bear economic consequences

Odigie said African workers were experiencing the consequences of global conflicts through rising living costs, disrupted energy and fertiliser supplies, job losses and declining purchasing power.

He also expressed concern that disruptions to energy and fertiliser shipments through the Strait of Hormuz could affect food security, employment and household incomes across the continent.

He said warnings by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) had highlighted the potential consequences of these disruptions for wages, working conditions, employment and migrant workers.

According to him, workers were not responsible for starting wars but were bearing much of their economic burden through higher prices and reduced public investment in essential services.

Illicit arms trafficking and resource exploitation

The organisation also raised concerns about the exploitation of natural resources and trafficking in military equipment, which it said continued to sustain armed groups and insurgencies.

Odigie identified mineral-rich eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and the Sahel as areas where competition over resources and illicit weapons flows were contributing to insecurity.

He said the diversion of natural resources and circulation of illegal weapons were undermining legitimate economic activities, displacing workers and exposing communities to violence.

Call for diplomacy and protection of civilians

ITUC-Africa urged governments to respect the United Nations Charter, the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law, particularly provisions requiring the protection of civilians during armed conflicts.

It called for:

An immediate cessation of hostilities and stronger protection for civilians and migrant workers.
Unhindered humanitarian access to conflict-affected communities.
More decisive action against illicit arms trafficking.
Renewed diplomatic negotiations and peaceful resolution of disputes.
Restoration of humanitarian funding.
Greater investment in decent work, social protection and sustainable development.

The organisation also called for consistent application of international legal obligations, arguing that compliance should not depend on geopolitical interests.

Labour movement calls for accountability

Odigie maintained that lasting security could not be achieved through the destruction of communities, displacement of workers and deepening poverty.

He urged workers across Africa to sustain peaceful collective action, international solidarity and social dialogue to demand accountability from governments.

The organisation's position places the economic and social consequences of armed conflicts at the centre of the debate over global security spending.

For African countries facing unemployment, food insecurity and infrastructure deficits, the challenge extends beyond calls for peace. It also involves ensuring that public resources support livelihoods, essential services and long-term development rather than allowing conflict to deepen existing vulnerabilities.

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