Onu: les apparences fragiles et le chaos des coulisses
At the 80th United Nations General Assembly, the world was supposed to listen to the world's top leaders outline solutions to our collective emergencies: climate, peace, and development. But what unfolded behind the scenes sometimes resembled a theater of the absurd more than a high-level meeting.
It began with a wayward escalator. Donald Trump, back on the international stage, accompanied by his wife, remains stuck at the entrance to the UN building. A few minutes later, his speech turns into a sketch. The teleprompter is broken, the microphone is malfunctioning, and the president is angry. He explodes on Truth Social, accusing the UN of "triple sabotage," demands an immediate investigation, copies Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and makes half-hearted threats. The entire world watches, stunned, as diplomacy becomes reality TV.
The UN spokesperson quickly deflated the controversy: it was a simple White House videographer who mistakenly activated the escalator's security system. A technical blunder, certainly. But in high places, nothing is ever truly trivial.
And it's not over yet. French President Emmanuel Macron is stuck in New York traffic jams because of... Donald Trump's motorcade. The diplomatic ballet is turning into a logistical cacophony. If the UN was supposed to symbolize multilateral effectiveness, this 2025 edition has failed, at least in form.
Then it's Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye's turn. Protocol installs him, the cameras are in place... but his speech has disappeared from the lectern. A moment of hesitation. The man remains calm. In this surreal scene, his mere presence imposes a striking contrast, that of a head of state who, despite the hiccups, refuses to be distracted by the set's failures.
But then again, what was supposed to be a summit of global diplomacy often turned into poorly executed theater. A stark illustration of the gap between the stated intentions and the reality of the UN apparatus. And if symbols matter, what can be said about these repeated malfunctions that tarnish the ceremonial supposed to embody the seriousness of global governance?
Because behind these almost comical anecdotes lies a much more serious question: how can we trust a global system that struggles to organize its own annual meeting? How can we expect concrete solutions to major crises when the major powers are engaged in ego squabbles, when technology goes off the rails, and when priorities are erased by posturing?
Fortunately, amidst the hubbub, some voices were able to impose a clear line. That of the Senegalese president was one of them. Without dragging on, he spoke calmly but firmly. He said the essentials, on the climate, governance, and Gaza. But above all, he demonstrated that Africa can stand tall, even when the stage is shaky. Unfortunately, it is Trump who holds the veto. "Recognizing the Palestinian state is a kind of reward for the Hamas authorities," he declared, setting the tone.
In any case, the world is in crisis, and its multilateral system with it. It's not just a matter of microphones or electric staircases; it's the diplomatic machinery itself that's creaking. And if the UN wants to remain credible, it will have to do much more than fix technical bugs; it will have to overhaul its software.
Commentaires (6)
Diomaye a été saboté par les lobbies de Macky sall
C'est faux. Il s'est lui même gouré à la face du monde
Onu ay nagekh lagnou
Justice pour Gaza. Trop c'est trop
Justice pour Gaza. C'est vraiment triste
On comprend que ces discours cedt un théâtre internationale
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