19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement
{{Short description|2023 Munyonyo summit conference}}
{{Infobox summit
|summit_name =19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement
|image =19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement Kampala.png
|caption =The summit's official logo
|motto ='Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence'
|cities =Kampala
|country ={{flag|Uganda}}
|dates =January 2024
|follows =18th Summit (Baku, {{flag|Azerbaijan}})
|precedes =to be determined
|website ={{URL|https://nam.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.{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/uganda-non-aligned-movement-israel-gaza-palestinian-22c852bd408cda0a904431d913728f32 |title=The Non-Aligned Movement calls Israel's war in Gaza illegal and condemns attacks on Palestinians |date=19 January 2024 |work=Associated Press |access-date=15 April 2024 }} The event was marked by strong criticism of Israel's actions during the Gaza war by many participating delegations. 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.theafricareport.com/328479/uganda-hosts-developing-and-non-aligned-countries-but-to-what-end/ |title=Uganda hosts developing and non-aligned countries, but to what end? |author=Musinguzi Blanshe |date=21 November 2023 |work=The Africa Report |access-date=15 April 2024 }} 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.{{cite web |url=https://76crimes.com/2024/01/24/amid-global-disputes-over-lgbt-rights-uganda-takes-non-aligned-movement-chair/ |title=Amid global disputes over LGBT rights, Uganda takes Non-Aligned Movement chair |author=Otako Ofampa |date=24 January 2024 |work=Erasing 76 Crimes |access-date=15 April 2024 }}
Overview
{{Main|Non-Aligned Movement}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://mnoal.org/nam-about/|title=About NAM – NAM|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323135155/https://mnoal.org/nam-about/|archive-date=2019-03-23|url-status=dead}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://mea.gov.in/in-focus-article.htm?20349/History+and+Evolution+of+NonAligned+Movement|title=History and Evolution of Non-Aligned Movement|website=mea.gov.in|access-date=2019-11-29}}
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.rs/en/foreign-policy/multilateral-issues/the-non-aligment-movement|title=The Non-Aligned Movement|website=www.mfa.gov.rs|access-date=2019-11-29}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/un-suspends-former-yugoslavia-1553074.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/un-suspends-former-yugoslavia-1553074.html |archive-date=2022-05-01 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=UN suspends former Yugoslavia|date=1992-09-23|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=2019-11-29}}{{cbignore}}
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.
Approximately, two-thirds of the United Nations' members are represented at the Non-Aligned Movement, and they comprise 55% of the world's population.{{Cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-10/19/c_138486156.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021005830/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-10/19/c_138486156.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 21, 2019|title=Cuban president to visit three European countries, attend NAM summit – Xinhua {{!}} English.news.cn|website=www.xinhuanet.com|access-date=2019-11-29}}
Arrangement
The 19th Summit was decided to be conducted in the capital of Uganda, Kampala as the 18th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit was held in Azerbaijan. The [https://nam.go.ug/agenda-and-event-programme/NAM-Summit-Programme summit] took place between 15th and 20th January 2024 at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
Participants
Out of 120 full member states of the movement, 93 of them actively participated in the event in Kampala.{{cite web |url=https://www.voaafrica.com/a/analysis-non-aligned-summit-continues-in-kampala/7444100.html |title=Analysis: Non-Aligned Summit Continues in Kampala |date=18 January 2024 |work=Voice of America |access-date=15 April 2024 }} S. Jai Shankar, Minister of External Affairs, GOI, participated in the event. South Africa was represented by president Cyril Ramaphosa.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.za/news/media-advisories/visits-foreign-countries/president-cyril-ramaphosa-attends-19th-non-aligned |title=President Cyril Ramaphosa attends 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Uganda, 19 to 20 Jan |date=18 January 2024 |work=Government of South Africa |access-date=15 April 2024 }} 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/nam-at-a-crossroads-analysing-indias-diplomatic-choices-and-priorities-13687512.html |author=Gurjit Singh |title=NAM at a crossroads: Analysing India's diplomatic choices and priorities |date=18 January 2024 |work=Firstpost |access-date=15 April 2024 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/at-nam-summit-jaishankar-pitches-for-two-state-solution-for-gaza-crisis/article67757593.ece |author=Kallol Bhattacherjee |title=At NAM summit, Jaishankar pitches for two-state solution for Gaza crisis |date=20 January 2024 |work=The Hindu |access-date=15 April 2024 }} In the backdrop of strong criticism of Israel by many participants, Jaishankar avoided explicit condemnation of any side in Gaza war and underlined the substantial humanitarian assistance that his country has extended to the Palestinians while underlining the need for a two-state solution. In reference to Russian invasion of Ukraine he stressed how war “anywhere has consequences everywhere.” Delegation of Nepal included Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Minister of Foreign Affairs Narayan Prakash Saud.{{cite web |url=https://kathmandupost.com/columns/2024/01/25/nepal-s-non-alignment-foreign-policy |title=Nepal's non-alignment foreign policy |date=25 January 2024 |author=Pragya Ghimire |work=The Kathmandu Post |access-date=15 April 2024 }}
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.{{cite web |url=https://www.oslobodjenje.ba/vijesti/bih/zeljka-cvijanovic-na-samitu-u-kampali-jezik-sile-oruzja-i-sukoba-i-dalje-prevladava-nad-jezikom-mira-924249 |title=Željka Cvijanović na samitu u Kampali: Jezik sile, oružja i sukoba i dalje prevladava nad jezikom mira |date=19 January 2024 |work=Oslobođenje |access-date=15 April 2024 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.klix.ba/vijesti/svijet/zeljka-cvijanovic-otisla-u-ugandu-na-samit-pokreta-nesvrstanih/240118132 |title=Željka Cvijanović otišla u Ugandu na samit Pokreta nesvrstanih |date=18 January 2024 |work=Klix.ba |access-date=15 April 2024 }}{{cite web |url=https://vecernjenovosti.ba/237454/vijesti/cvijanovic-u-ugandi-domacini-joj-plesom-pozeljeli-dobrodoslicu-video/ |title=CVIJANOVIĆ U UGANDI: Domaćini joj plesom poželjeli dobrodošlicu (VIDEO) |date=19 January 2024 |work=Večernje novosti |access-date=15 April 2024 }} 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. 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.rtv.rs/sr_lat/svet/predsednik-ugande-preuzeo-predsedavanje-pokretom-nesvrstanih-i-samitom_1510229.html |title=Predsednik Ugande preuzeo predsedavanje Pokretom nesvrstanih i samitom |date=19 January 2024 |work=Radio Television of Vojvodina |access-date=15 April 2024 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/594971/Dacic-Veliki-broj-clanica-Pokreta-nesvrstanih-ne-priznaje-Kosovo |title=Dačić: Veliki broj članica Pokreta nesvrstanih ne priznaje Kosovo |date=19 January 2024 |work=Politika |access-date=15 April 2024 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.rts.rs/lat/vesti/politika/5348946/uganda-19-smit-nesvrstanih-pokret.html |title=Ivica Dačić na Samitu Nesvrstanih u Ugandi: Mnoge članice Pokreta ne priznaju takozvano Kosovo |date=18 January 2024 |work=Radio Television of Serbia |access-date=15 April 2024 }}
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.{{cite web |url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240119-urging-un-reform-turkiye-vice-president-says-most-countries-reject-israel-onslaught-on-gaza/ |title=Urging UN reform, Turkiye Vice President says most countries reject Israel onslaught on Gaza |date=19 January 2024 |work=Middle East Monitor |access-date=15 April 2024 }}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Non-Aligned Movement Summits}}
{{Non-Aligned Movement}}
{{Foreign relations of Uganda}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, 19}}
Category:21st-century diplomatic conferences
Category:January 2024 in Uganda
{{Uganda-stub}}
{{Bilateralrelations-stub}}