UN/Monicah Aturinda Kyeyune   

The United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres addresses the G77 Summit in Kampala, Uganda.

January 21, 2024   Peace and Security

Developing countries must lead efforts to reform outdated multilateral institutions and frameworks, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in remarks to the third summit of the Group of 77 (G-77) and China, which opened in Kampala, Uganda, on Sunday.

More than 130 countries are members of the bloc – the largest grouping of the global South, representing 80 per cent of the planet’s population – and their solidarity and partnership are essential to building a sustainable, peaceful and just world for all, he said.

“Let us face it: those that benefit most from the present global governance system are unlikely to lead its reform. So, momentum for change must come from you,” he told leaders. "I urge you to keep driving these efforts forward.”

Commitments still stand

The Secretary-General was in the Ugandan capital this weekend to participate in the summit and the latest meeting of another UN partner, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), held on Saturday.

He outlined many of the challenges facing the world today, including achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the 2030 deadline as well as ensuring economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, respect for human rights and climate action.

“While South-South cooperation is strong and deepening, it does not replace the need for the respect of the commitments of the global North – for sustained engagement to reduce poverty and inequality, support growth and build resilience in developing countries,” he said.

Furthermore, peace “is breaking down amidst a climate of global impunity”, with wars in Sudan, Ukraine, the Middle East and beyond. These conflicts are devastating lives, fuelling mass displacement, disrupting global supply chains and threatening to set entire regions alight.

Middle East ‘tinderbox’

Highlighting the conflict in Gaza, the Secretary-General warned that “the Middle East is a tinderbox” and called for action to prevent a spillover across the region. He again stressed the need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, access for humanitarian aid and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

“The repeated refusal yesterday to accept the two-State solution for Israelis and Palestinians is totally unacceptable, as I told the summit of the Non-Aligned Movement,” he said.

“The denial of the right to statehood for the Palestinian people would indefinitely prolong a conflict that has become a major threat to global peace and security, exacerbate polarization and embolden extremists everywhere.” 

Outdated international system

Although righting our troubled world requires effective global action, Mr. Guterres said "the current international system is out of date, out of time and out of step" as it was established when many G77 countries were still colonized.

He called for reform of the UN Security Council, saying it is paralyzed by geopolitical divisions while its composition does not reflect the reality of today’s world. The Council is comprised of 15 members, and five – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States – have the right to veto any resolution.

Similarly, the global financial system established after the Second World War, which "failed to provide a global safety net for developing countries in distress", must also be reformed to be more inclusive.