League of African Ambassadors Rallies Behind Caribbean Nations, Unveils Solidarity Initiative After Hurricane Melissa
The League of African Ambassadors (LAA) has expressed deep sympathy and solidarity with the people and governments of the Caribbean, particularly Jamaica, following the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, October 30, 2025, in Lusaka, the League described the hurricane’s impact as a “catastrophic devastation” that has left the African diplomatic community “profoundly moved by empathy and shared concern.”
“While oceans may separate us, the deep historical, cultural, and ancestral bonds that unite Africa and the Caribbean are unbreakable. The pain of our brothers and sisters in the Caribbean is our pain. Their loss is our loss,” the League said.
Signed by the League’s President, Ambassador Nwanne Ominyi, former Nigerian High Commissioner to Zambia, the statement reaffirmed Africa’s Pan-African commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with Caribbean nations in the aftermath of the disaster.
As part of its response, the LAA announced the launch of the “Hand of Friendship and Advocacy” initiative, a diplomatic and strategic effort designed to mobilize international assistance and strengthen long-term cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean.
According to Ambassador Ominyi, the initiative seeks to amplify calls for help, facilitate coordinated relief operations, and promote the deployment of specialized humanitarian agencies to affected regions.
The League urged the United Nations, humanitarian organizations, and global partners, including the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, to urgently deploy emergency response teams and technical experts to assist with disaster management and recovery.
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Beyond immediate relief, the League called for the establishment of an Africa-Caribbean Partnership on Climate Resilience, a long-term framework aimed at uniting both regions in the fight for climate justice and equitable access to climate financing.
“This tragedy must be a turning point. Small Island Developing States and African nations bear the heaviest burden of a climate crisis they did almost nothing to create,” the statement read.
The League emphasized that global cooperation and sustained advocacy are essential to prevent future disasters and to ensure that vulnerable nations are supported through resilient infrastructure and sustainable development policies.
In its closing message, the LAA assured the governments and peoples of the Caribbean that Africa stands firmly beside them in their time of loss and rebuilding.
“To the governments and peoples of the Caribbean, we say to you that you are not alone. Africa stands with you. Our solidarity is expressed through our unwavering diplomatic voice, our moral authority, and our commitment to ensure your call for help is heard and acted upon across the world,” the statement declared.
The League concluded by reaffirming that “the resources of solidarity are found in the unwavering commitment to stand together as one family, to speak as one voice, and to demand a global response worthy of the resilience and spirit of the Caribbean people.”
“The strength of our global African family lies in unity. In standing together, we transform empathy into action and adversity into renewed resilience.”
As the Caribbean rebuilds in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, the League of African Ambassadors said it will continue to use its diplomatic platforms to amplify the region’s call for relief and justice. The League emphasized that this is not only an act of compassion but also a reaffirmation of the enduring bond between Africa and the Caribbean, a bond rooted in shared struggle, mutual strength, and a collective vision for a more equitable world.
