In addressing the UN General Assembly on Sept. 23, Republic of South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa proposed that the United Nations preserve its mission, as the nations of the Global Majority reject the drumbeat of war, to achieve a new development-pivoted system. Ramaphosa stated: “Eighty years ago, the United Nations was established to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war and build a peaceful, prosperous and just world arising from the devastation brought about by global conflict…. Now more than ever, we are called upon to uphold the values and advance the purpose of the United Nations.
He continued: “Our foreign policy is guided not only by the needs of our people, but also those of the continent of Africa and the Global South. Inspired by our own history, South Africa strives to maintain world peace and the settlement of all international disputes through negotiation and dialogue, not war.”
One key feature he mentioned is to increase credit: “Many countries with developing economies, especially in Africa, do not have adequate capital to finance their development goals. They are indebted and are paying more on debt servicing than they do on health and education.”
Instead, the world is too greatly focused on war: “The Secretary-General recently reported that global military expenditure has reached historic highs just as the world is falling behind on its core development promises. We are building weapons, when we should be building social infrastructure. We are fighting wars that cause death and destruction, when we should be fighting poverty and developing the livelihoods of vulnerable people.
“There is an increasing reliance on unilateral military action in contravention of international law.”
