Pretoria: Cabinet has approved the report on the outcomes of the 79th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. The session, held in September 2024, was conducted under the theme, ‘Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations’.
According to South African Government News Agency, South Africa’s participation in the UN Summit of the Future aimed at fostering global consensus and advancing priorities such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), alongside supporting Africa’s development agenda, known as Agenda 2063. President Cyril Ramaphosa, during his address at the summit, underscored the necessity of tackling the root causes of conflict and confronting the mutual threats facing the world. He also spoke on South Africa’s initiatives at the International Court of Justice concerning Palestine.
The President urged the international community to promptly address peace and security issues in regions including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Yemen, Ukraine, and the Sahel, as well as to support the self-determination of Western Sahara. The assembly’s member states voiced several international peace and security concerns, notably regarding the Ukraine/Russia and Palestine/Israel conflicts, and emphasized the significance of diplomacy, dialogue, and multilateral efforts in resolving disputes in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
Cabinet noted in a statement after its meeting that member states also expressed worry about growing global economic inequality, linking it to the necessity for reforming international financial systems. The need for reform of the UN’s Security Council was also repeatedly emphasized.