Kampala, Uganda — Foreign ministers from Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) member states opened a two-day meeting in Kampala on Wednesday, reiterating the importance of multilateralism amid growing global tensions.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, chairing the meeting themed “Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence,” emphasized that no country should seek to dominate others, underscoring every nation’s sovereign right to chart its own development path. He urged member states to focus on shared interests in trade, investment, and tourism, saying collaboration in these areas can foster collective prosperity.
Moussa Mohamed Omar, deputy chief of staff in the cabinet of the African Union (AU) Commission chairperson, said NAM’s relevance has never been greater given rising global imbalances. Representing AU Commission chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Omar called on member states to unite to ensure their collective interests are recognized internationally.
“We must build a new political, economic, and financial architecture based on agreements and shared responsibilities. Those who benefit from the current world order are defending it,” Omar said, noting that NAM is well-positioned to advocate for a fairer global system.
Xia Huang, special envoy of the United Nations (UN) secretary-general for the Great Lakes Region, stressed that multilateralism is essential for international peace and security. “In this uncertain period, NAM should continue playing a central role in promoting peace, which is the foundation for prosperity,” he said.
Huang also highlighted the deteriorating humanitarian situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where armed clashes have displaced over 1.6 million people since the start of the year. More than two-thirds of these displacements are linked to ongoing fighting, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.