By Muhammad Mamman
The United Nations is facing an unprecedented financial crisis that could cripple its operations, Secretary-General António Guterres has warned, as a growing number of member states fail to pay their assessed contributions.
Speaking on the organisation’s worsening cash crunch, Mr Guterres said the UN is now at risk of an “imminent financial collapse”, stressing that chronic non-payment of dues has left the world body struggling to meet basic obligations, including staff salaries and essential programmes.
According to the Secretary-General, the crisis is not a sudden shock but the result of a long-standing pattern in which some member states delay or completely withhold their financial commitments. These unpaid fees, he noted, have severely constrained the UN’s ability to carry out its mandate at a time when global challenges — from conflict and humanitarian emergencies to climate change — are intensifying.
Mr Guterres warned that without urgent action, the financial strain could undermine peacekeeping missions, humanitarian assistance, and development programmes across the globe. He described the situation as unsustainable and called on member states to honour their legal and moral responsibilities.
“The United Nations is only as strong as the support it receives from its members,” he said, urging governments to pay their contributions in full and on time to prevent further deterioration.
The warning comes amid ongoing reforms aimed at improving efficiency and reducing costs within the UN system. However, the Secretary-General emphasised that no amount of internal restructuring can compensate for the consistent failure of members to meet their financial obligations.
As the UN marks nearly eight decades of existence, Mr Guterres cautioned that continued neglect of its funding could weaken multilateral cooperation when it is needed most, leaving the organisation unable to respond effectively to crises that transcend national borders.
