President William Ruto has lauded the values of the Non-Aligned Movement noting that they protect, uphold and promote universal values of freedom and democracy of the nations in the world.
While speaking during the summit in Uganda on Friday, January 19, the head of state also congratulated Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni for assuming the position of chairperson of the movement.
According to Ruto, because the movement will serve its members well, it is important for them to remember and celebrate rejecting the idea of being aligned.
“I take this opportunity to congratulate you on assuming the chair of the Non-Aligned Movement, and to assure you of my full support throughout your tenure.
“Since its inception, our movement has existed to protect, uphold and promote the enduring and universal values of freedom, democracy and the sovereign equality of the nations of the world, in order to facilitate meaningful global solidarity,” stated the president.
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President Ruto’s Message to the Rest of the Members
To the rest of the members, Ruto noted that the values they stand by should inspire them to demand for democracy and inclusion in decision making frameworks.
Also, he demanded for democracy in institutional architecture of both the global security and governance, and the international financial systems.
“The collective voice of the Nonaligned Movement must therefore redefine and reorient the United Nations Security Council, as well as the multilateral development financing agencies,” he noted.
Ruto also asked members of the movement to stand against the disrespect on the principle of the sovereign equality of nations and peoples.
He highlighted the challenges of climate change, terrorism, armed conflict and violent extremism, calling on the United Nations and other regional organizations to do more to promote peacemaking.
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“Our age is increasingly characterized by the rising risk of armed conflict, resurgent nuclear proliferation, the persistent threat of terrorism, and violent extremism, along with emerging challenges such as the devastating impacts of climate change.
“Let us, therefore, reaffirm our commitment to supporting initiatives that will facilitate the rapid implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote economic justice, and create a world where shared prosperity manifests in lived reality as significantly enhanced well-being and security,” added Ruto.
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), international organization dedicated to representing the interests and aspirations of developing countries. In the early 21st century the Non-Aligned Movement counted 120 member states.
The Non-Aligned Movement
The Non-Aligned Movement was established following colonization after World War II, initially by the countries that had recently gained independence by 1955.
They argued that countries of the developing world should abstain from aligning with either of the two superpowers (the United States and the U.S.S.R.) and instead join together to support self-determination against colonialism.
As a condition for membership, the member states cannot be part of a multilateral military alliance, such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Additionally, they must not have signed a bilateral military agreement with one of the big powers although it does not mean that a member state must remain passive or neutral in international politics.
