Summary:

• Uganda has assumed leadership of the Group of 77 + China, succeeding Cuba. During the 3rd South Summit, President Museveni urged global unity for solving crises. UN Secretary-General Guterres called for reform in financial institutions and frameworks, addressing economic challenges and global issues.

Uganda has taken over the chairmanship of the Group of 77 + China, succeeding Cuba in the role it held for the past year. The G-77+ China, originally formed by 77 developing countries in 1964 during the first session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva, aimed to foster economic cooperation among its members and collectively address issues related to development, trade, and international financial institutions. The group has since grown to include 134 members and has received political and financial support from China since 1994, even though China does not consider itself a formal member.

During the official commencement of the 3rd South Summit in Kampala, President Museveni of Uganda called on global countries to unite in addressing ongoing global crises. In his inaugural remarks as the new leader of the Group, Museveni emphasized the need for collective promotion and protection of human rights and development, urging that human rights issues should be handled objectively and not politicized. He also called for international assistance for developing countries facing challenges politically and financially, particularly those under foreign occupation.

President Museveni stressed the importance of international financial institutions providing financial assistance to developing countries without imposing stringent conditions for their development. UN Secretary-General António Guterres echoed this sentiment at the event, advising countries in the global south to demand their rights and negotiate clear positions with wealthier countries from the global north. Guterres emphasized the need to reform financial institutions and frameworks created after World War II to better reflect current global realities and be more responsive to the needs of developing countries.

The UN chief highlighted the economic challenges faced by many G-77 members, including the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, crippling debts, a cost-of-living crisis, and high borrowing costs. He also addressed the impact of climate disasters and the inequalities exacerbated by digital technologies, warning about the potential negative effects of artificial intelligence. Guterres underscored the breakdown of peace globally, with wars in various regions devastating lives, disrupting supply chains, and threatening entire regions.

In his speech, Mr. Dennis Francis, the president of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, drew attention to escalating geopolitical tensions, wars, and conflicts, emphasizing the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip. He noted the irreparable trauma and loss suffered by generations of families, with children undergoing amputations without anesthesia and entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble. Francis called on the United Nations to provide answers to the world’s pressing challenges.