President Ramaphosa Attends 19th Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Uganda

Thursday, 18 January 2024

President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Kampala, Uganda, this evening to participate in the 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit scheduled for 19-20 January 2024. The summit, operating under the theme “Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence,” marks a crucial moment for the 120 Member States comprising the NAM.

Preceding the summit, NAM Ministers engaged in discussions from 17 to 18 January 2024. Notably, the summit serves as the platform to formally transfer the NAM Chair from Azerbaijan to the Republic of Uganda for the next three years (2024-2027).

Uganda, assuming the role of Chair, has outlined five priority goals, focusing on regional and international peace, the fight against terrorism, migration and humanitarian crises, combatting human trafficking and drug smuggling, and commitment to Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals.

The outgoing Chair, Azerbaijan, will present a comprehensive report on the Movement’s activities during its three-year term. President Yoweri Kagura Museveni of Uganda is expected to be elected by acclamation as the new NAM Chair.

The Summit aims to adopt crucial documents including the Kampala Final Outcome Document, the Kampala Declaration, and the NAM Ministerial Declaration on Palestine.

Following the NAM Summit, Uganda will also take on the Group of 77 (G77) Chairship, hosting the G77 Third South Summit from 21 to 23 January 2024, under the theme “Leaving No One Behind.” This summit, involving 134 Member States, seeks to foster South-South cooperation in trade, investment, sustainable development, climate change, poverty eradication, and the digital economy.

South Africa, represented by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr. Naledi Pandor, will actively engage in G77 plus China, reinforcing the importance of South-South cooperation as a complement to North-South collaboration in the pursuit of a fair and equitable multilateral system.