Addressing at the 78th session of the UN Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the South African leader pointed out that a great number of peoples are currently facing wars and conflicts, misery and hunger, diseases and environmental disasters. Ahead of such conditions, and in the wake of a devastating global pandemic, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) seems to be farther every minute, he added.

“Now it is to proceed with the UN Security Council (UNSC)’s reform to give meaning to the principle of nations’ sovereign equality, and to enable UNSC to respond more effectively to today’s geopolitical realities,” Ramaphosa stressed.

“We must guarantee that the voice of the African continent and the global South is strengthened at the UN and in the wider multilateral system,” the president stated.

He further called for remaining faithful to the founding principles of the UN, recognizing the inalienable right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination in accordance with UNGA´s relevant resolutions.

Likewise, the leader encouraged to work for peace in the Middle East. As long as the land of Palestinians continues to be occupied by Israel, as long as their rights are ignored and their dignity is denied, peace will remain elusive, the president noted.

In his speech, Ramaphosa emphasized how “South Africa pursues to call for the lifting of the economic U.S. blockade imposed on Cuba, which has caused incalculable damage to the Cuban economy and its people.”

¨It is very worrying that the richest countries have not fulfilled their commitments to mobilize USD$100 billion a year for developing economies to adopt climate measures,¨ he claimed.

“It is very serious that this international community can spend so much on war, but we cannot support the measures that must be adopted to meet the most basic needs of billions of people,” the president concluded.

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