19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement

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19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement
The summit's official logo
Host country Uganda
DatesJanuary 2024
Motto'Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence'
CitiesKampala
Follows18th Summit (Baku,  Azerbaijan)
Precedesto be determined
Websitenam.go.ug

The 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement was held in January 2024 in Kampala, Uganda. Out of 120 member states around 90 participated in the summit including 30 heads of state.[1] The event was marked by strong criticism of Israel's actions during the Israel–Hamas war by many participating delegations.[1] It was the first time since 2009 (Sharm El Sheikh) that the NAM summit was organized in Africa and first time since 1998 (Durban) it was organized in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The hosting of the event coincided with the hosting of the Group of 77 summit later that year, marking the first instance where both summits were organized by the same country.[2] This dual hosting initiative aimed to enhance the country's global standing, particularly amidst strong criticism from Western nations regarding the significant downturn in LGBT rights in Uganda.[2][3]

Overview[edit]

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is a forum that is not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. After the United Nations, it is the largest grouping of states worldwide.[4]

Drawing on the principles agreed at the Bandung Conference in 1955, the NAM was established in 1961 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia through the initiative of President of Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito, President of Egypt Gamal Abdel Nasser, Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru, President of Indonesia Sukarno, and President of Ghana Kwame Nkrumah.[4][5]

After the breakup of Yugoslavia, a founding member, its membership was suspended in 1992 at the regular ministerial meeting held in New York during the regular annual session of the United Nations General Assembly.[6][7]

As of October 2019, the organization consists of 120 member states, including the non-UN member state of Palestine, as well as 17 other observer countries and 10 observer organizations.[4]

Approximately, two-thirds of the United Nations' members are represented at the Non-Aligned Movement, and they comprise 55% of the world's population.[8]

Arrangement[edit]

The 19th Summit was decided to be conducted in the capital of Uganda, Kampala at the 18th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit held in Azerbaijan. The summit took place between 15th and 20th January 2024 at Speke Resort Munyonyo.

Participants[edit]

Out of 120 full member states of the movement, 93 of them actively participated in the event in Kampala.[9] S. Jai Shankar, Minister of External Affairs, GOI, participated in the event. South Africa was represented by president Cyril Ramaphosa.[10] India, one of the founding and core members of the movement that more recently tended to distance itself from NAM due to controversial chairmen selection, was represented by Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar.[11][12] In the backdrop of strong criticism of Israel by many participants, Jaishankar avoided explicit condemnation of any side in Israel–Hamas war and underlined the substantial humanitarian assistance that his country has extended to the Palestinians while underlining the need for a two-state solution.[12] In reference to Russian invasion of Ukraine he stressed how war “anywhere has consequences everywhere.”[12] Delegation of Nepal included Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Minister of Foreign Affairs Narayan Prakash Saud.[13]

Among the observer countries of the Non-Aligned Movement, Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, three-member collective head of state, was represented by Bosnian Serb member Željka Cvijanović.[14][15][16] She stated that the policy of non-alignment has stood the test of time, and its principles and values are just as crucial to the world today as they were 60 years ago at the time of the 1st Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in SFR Yugoslavia.[14] Serbia was represented by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dačić who highlighted the significance of the movement for his country as most of NAM members are ″countries that are friendly to us″ and with majority of them not recognising Kosovo effectively preventing its membership in the United Nations.[17][18][19]

Guest countries included Turkey which was represented by Vice President of Turkey Cevdet Yılmaz who criticised the United Nations Security Council for failing to call for a ceasefire in Gaza Strip.[20]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "The Non-Aligned Movement calls Israel's war in Gaza illegal and condemns attacks on Palestinians". Associated Press. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b Musinguzi Blanshe (21 November 2023). "Uganda hosts developing and non-aligned countries, but to what end?". The Africa Report. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  3. ^ Otako Ofampa (24 January 2024). "Amid global disputes over LGBT rights, Uganda takes Non-Aligned Movement chair". Erasing 76 Crimes. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "About NAM – NAM". Archived from the original on 2019-03-23. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  5. ^ "History and Evolution of Non-Aligned Movement". mea.gov.in. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  6. ^ "The Non-Aligned Movement". www.mfa.gov.rs. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  7. ^ "UN suspends former Yugoslavia". The Independent. 1992-09-23. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  8. ^ "Cuban president to visit three European countries, attend NAM summit – Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2019. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  9. ^ "Analysis: Non-Aligned Summit Continues in Kampala". Voice of America. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  10. ^ "President Cyril Ramaphosa attends 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Uganda, 19 to 20 Jan". Government of South Africa. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  11. ^ Gurjit Singh (18 January 2024). "NAM at a crossroads: Analysing India's diplomatic choices and priorities". Firstpost. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  12. ^ a b c Kallol Bhattacherjee (20 January 2024). "At NAM summit, Jaishankar pitches for two-state solution for Gaza crisis". The Hindu. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  13. ^ Pragya Ghimire (25 January 2024). "Nepal's non-alignment foreign policy". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Željka Cvijanović na samitu u Kampali: Jezik sile, oružja i sukoba i dalje prevladava nad jezikom mira". Oslobođenje. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Željka Cvijanović otišla u Ugandu na samit Pokreta nesvrstanih". Klix.ba. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  16. ^ "CVIJANOVIĆ U UGANDI: Domaćini joj plesom poželjeli dobrodošlicu (VIDEO)". Večernje novosti. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Predsednik Ugande preuzeo predsedavanje Pokretom nesvrstanih i samitom". Radio Television of Vojvodina. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Dačić: Veliki broj članica Pokreta nesvrstanih ne priznaje Kosovo". Politika. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  19. ^ "Ivica Dačić na Samitu Nesvrstanih u Ugandi: Mnoge članice Pokreta ne priznaju takozvano Kosovo". Radio Television of Serbia. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Urging UN reform, Turkiye Vice President says most countries reject Israel onslaught on Gaza". Middle East Monitor. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.