The 121 countries of the Non-Aligned Movement agree on one thing: It is time to assert their place in a divided world
In a world that seems to divide between the superpowers that are China, Europe, Russia and the United States, 120 nations gathered in Uganda this month to demonstrate their independence — 121 with the addition of South Sudan which joined at the conference. Its entry means that the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) now comprises every African nation.
“It was the only African country that was not a member of NAM,” said Ambassador Adonai Ayebare, Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. “That they are joining now, we are a complete African family in the Non-Aligned Movement.”
The 19th Summit of NAM ran from 15 to 20 January 2024 and drew attention to the challenges and opportunities faced by developing nations worldwide, under the theme “Deepening Cooperation For Shared Global Affluence.”
It marked Uganda’s most significant international event since a meeting of the leaders of the 56 Commonwealth countries in 2007.
As the discussions kicked off, the spotlight swung to Uganda, a country that has recently carved a niche for passing laws that persecute the LGBTQ community. Consequently, the country was eliminated from the African Growth and Opportunity Act — the trade deal which provides duty-free access to the U.S. market for over 6,000 products.
