On Monday, the 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit commenced in Kampala, Uganda, addressing global challenges such as terrorism and climate change.
The five-day summit represents the second-largest gathering of nations worldwide after the UN, boasting 120 member states, 18 observer nations, and 10 organizations.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs , Gen. Abubakar Jeje Odongo, inaugurated the summit in adherence to NAM’s norms.
“On behalf of the Ugandan government and its people, I extend a warm welcome to Kampala for the senior officials’ segment of the 19th summit of heads of state and government of the Non-Aligned Movement. In the face of various global challenges, including terrorism, climate change, debt burdens, and famine, it is fitting that this year’s summit focuses on the theme ‘Enhancing Collaboration For Collective Global Prosperity,'” he stated.
“NAM retains its significance as an organization, and amidst the complex global landscape, the enduring relevance of the 10-point Badung Principles is evident in the present era,” he added.
In April 1955, representatives from 29 Asian and African nations gathered in Bandung, Indonesia, to discuss peace, the role of the Third World in the Cold War, economic development, and decolonization.
The Bandung principles emphasize respect for the sovereignty, equality, and territorial integrity of all states, rejection of unconstitutional changes of government, the preservation of each state’s inalienable right to determine its political, social, economic, and cultural system without external interference, and the rejection of aggression and the direct or indirect use of force.
The NAM summit, occurring every three years in a different continent, previously convened in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2019, under the theme “Upholding the Bandung Principles to ensure a united and effective response to the challenges of the contemporary world.”
The summit’s speakers will include UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, and over 50 heads of state and government. Approximately 1,000 to 1,500 delegates are expected to participate in the event.
