22 January 2024
The 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit was held from 19 to 20 January 2024 under the theme “Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence” in Kampala, Uganda, The summit is preceded by a meeting of the NAM Ministers held from 17 to 18 January 2024.
The NAM Summit is the highest decision-making authority of the Movement and holds the Summit every three years. The Summit is also the occasion when the Movement formally rotates its Chair to the Head of State of the host country of the Summit, who then holds office until the next Summit. Azerbaijan has been the Chair since 2019 and will hand over the position to Uganda in 2024 for the next three years (2024-2027).
The Government of Uganda has identified five focus areas and priority goals of its Chairship. They are regional and international peace and security; the international fight against terrorism; international migration and humanitarian crises; human trafficking and drug smuggling; as well as Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals.
During the two-day Summit, Azerbaijan as the outgoing Chair of the NAM reported on the activities of the Movement during its three-year chairship. The President of the Republic of Uganda, Mr Yoweri Kagura Museveni, was elected by acclamation as Chair of the NAM.
With its 120 Member States, the NAM is the largest grouping of countries outside of the UN, making it an important role player in global and multilateral affairs. Since its inception in 1961, the Movement has played a crucial and obvious political role in representing the interests of developing countries, particularly in the eradication of colonialism, supporting struggles for liberation and self-determination, the pursuit of world peace and the search for a more equitable and just global order.
Following the 19th NAM Summit, Uganda will also assume the Group of 77 (G77) Chairship and host the G77 Third South Summit from 21 to 23 January 2024.
With the theme “Leaving No One Behind”, the Third South Summit hopes to bring a new cooperation dynamic among the 134 Member States of the Group of 77 in a more competitive world. The Summit is aimed at boosting South-South cooperation including in the areas of trade, investment, sustainable development, climate change, poverty eradication, and digital economy.
The South Summit is the supreme decision-making body of the Group of 77 plus China. The Group of 77 plus China is the largest negotiating bloc of developing countries in the United Nations, which provides the means for the countries of the South to articulate and promote their collective economic interests and enhance their joint negotiating capacity on all major international economic issues within the United Nations system and promote South-South cooperation for development.
South-South cooperation remains an important pillar for strengthening the economic independence of countries of the South as a complement and not a replacement to North-South cooperation. South Africa participates in the work of the G77 to ensure its strength, unity and cohesion in pursuit of the vision of a fair and equitable multilateral system.
During the Summit President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa said that the Summit takes place at a time when the world is faced with many challenges exacerbated by geopolitical dynamics and conflicts in various regions of the world.
“The wars taking place in Ukraine and Palestine are causing grave humanitarian and health crises and contributing to international instability. The supremacy of multilateralism as embodied by the United Nations Charter and international law is being undermined exactly when it is needed most.
“At a time when the world appears to be once again divided between east and west, the Non-Aligned Movement should continue to assert its independence based on our common values.
“South Africa remains steadfast in advancing its non-aligned approach in the maintenance of international peace and security and advocating for inclusive dialogue and the peaceful political settlement of disputes.”
Ramaphosa said the countries of the world are interlinked and interdependent as never before. “They are linked through technology, trade, global value chains and international capital flows. They share common challenges of climate change, pandemics, terrorism and illicit financial flows.
“This requires a globally agreed set of rules that applies equally to all, and that establishes room for development for the poorest and most disadvantaged. This interconnected world calls for a collective determination to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and to address the economic, social, health and environmental challenges that every country faces.”
He went on to say that the world needs to give dedicated attention to the reform of global governance institutions, including the United Nations. “We must give meaning to the principle of sovereign equality of nations and ensure that the voice of the African Continent and the Global South is strengthened in the broader multilateral system.”
Ramaphosa said that the Non-Aligned Movement, must continue to work together in support of:
• the right to self-determination of the peoples of Palestine and Western Sahara
• the lifting of the economic blockade against Cuba and unilateral sanctions against Iran, Venezuela and Zimbabwe
• reaffirmation of the inalienable right of access to nuclear materials, equipment and technology for peaceful purposes
• upholding the centrality of the UN Charter and international law in the peaceful resolution of conflict
• defeating the scourge of terrorism and its root causes
• the alleviation and eradication of poverty and underdevelopment.
Ramaphosa also spoke about the worsening situation in Gaza and called for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza. He also referred to South Africa asking the International Court of Justice to issue provisional measures ordering Israel to stop its military campaign in Gaza.
“The conflict has again illustrated the inadequacy of the United Nations, in particular the UN Security Council, in maintaining international peace and security. We should establish a system of global governance that is fair and equitable and has the capacity to respond to the needs of all persons in situations of threat and harm.
“As the Non-Aligned Movement, we should not only adhere to the equality of nations, but also to the equality of human beings. A world free of domination by the strong and powerful is as important as a world free of sexism. We must remain committed to the promotion and protection of the rights of women and girls and achieving women’s empowerment and gender equality. We must reaffirm our commitment to disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control as a necessary contribution towards the achievement of a secure world for all,” Ramaphosa said, calling for the Non-Aligned Movement to strengthen cooperation.
South African Presidency, Dirco and TDS