President Cyril Ramaphosa set the tone for SA’s priorities that Pretoria will pursue when it assumes chairmanship of the G20 in 2025, including climate financing for developing nations, reform of the UN Security Council and equitable distribution of vaccines amid the outbreak of mpox.
SA will assume the presidency of the G20 group of nations, and the country will use that role to advocate for Africa and the Global South, Ramaphosa said on Tuesday during his address to the UN General Assembly.
Ramaphosa called on wealthy nations to timeously meet climate-related financial commitments they made for developing countries to take action regarding global warming. He noted that despite being the least responsible for the climate crisis, African nations were the worst affected, having experienced extreme weather such as flooding, fires and droughts.
“It is essential that climate actions do not deepen global inequality or stifle the developmental aspirations of the Global South,” Ramaphosa said.
Seventy-eight years since its formation, the structure of the UN Security Council remains largely unchanged. Africa and its 1.4-billion people remain excluded from its key decision-making structures.
“The industrialised nations are not honouring their climate commitments, and we repeat the call for predictable and sustainable financing for climate action. We must operationalise the agreed-upon climate financing and capacity building instruments to advance mitigation and adaptation.”
Turning to the spread of the mpox disease, Ramaphosa called on the international community to “mobilise vaccine stockpiles and other medical countermeasures for deployment where they are most needed”.
Ramaphosa reiterated calls for the reform of the UN Security Council, including the inclusion of African nations within the organisation — something that has been endorsed by the US.
The Ezulwini Consensus, adopted by the AU in 2005, aimed to increase Africa’s representation on the UN Security Council. The consensus called for at least two permanent and five nonpermanent seats, with the AU selecting the countries to fill those seats. However, to date, the UN General Assembly still elects five new members from different geographical zones for two-year terms on the council, with Africa holding three rotational seats on the 15-member council.
Despite these efforts, the Security Council’s composition remains unchanged, with Africa still underrepresented. Many argue that this lack of representation undermines the council’s legitimacy and effectiveness.
“Seventy-eight years since its formation, the structure of the UN Security Council remains largely unchanged. Africa and its 1.4-billion people remain excluded from its key decision-making structures. The security council has not fulfilled its mandate to maintain international peace and security,” Ramaphosa said.
“The UN Security Council must be reformed as a matter of urgency. It must become more inclusive so the voices of all nations are heard and considered. Africa stands ready to play its part in building a safer global order.”
Ahead of the SA filing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in October, where the government will present a case of genocide against Israel, Ramaphosa called for a ceasefire in Gaza.
“We did so in terms of our obligations as a State Party to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. As SA we welcome the support a number of countries have given to the case that we launched at the ICJ,” Ramaphosa said.
“The ICJ’s orders make it clear that there is a plausible case of genocide against the people of Gaza. They further make it clear that states must also act to prevent genocide by Israel — and ensure they are not themselves in violation of the Genocide Convention by aiding or assisting in the commission of genocide.”
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