Give aid without conditions, Museveni tells donors as he assumes G77 chair

President Museveni, the newly elected Chairperson of the Group of 77 plus China (G77+China), has called on international bodies to provide support to developing countries without imposing any conditions. During his inaugural speech at the 3rd South Summit, held at Speke Resort Convention Center in Munyonyo, President Museveni emphasized the commitment of Uganda to the theme “Leaving No one Behind.” He urged the international community to offer targeted assistance to nations in need, addressing their challenges without conditionalities that impinge on their sovereignty.

Highlighting Uganda’s efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, President Museveni identified key sectors such as commercial agriculture, industrialization, services, and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to support the country’s socio-economic transformation. He commended the unity within the G77+China Group, representing 80% of the global population and over 40% of the global GDP.

President Museveni urged the G77+China to remain united in addressing global challenges, including poverty, hunger, digital divide, and climate change. He emphasized the importance of working collectively to achieve a just and equitable international economic order, expressing concerns about the threat to multilateralism and the rise in unilateralism.

Taking over the Chairmanship during the Group’s 60th anniversary, President Museveni outlined Uganda’s priorities, including accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, addressing climate change, strengthening international tax cooperation, and fighting against illicit financial flows. The Vice President of Cuba, Salvador Valdes Mesa, acknowledged President Museveni’s leadership, pledging Cuba’s total support to his role as Chairperson of G77+China.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, addressed the Summit, calling for effective global action to fulfill the theme of “Leaving No one Behind.” He highlighted the need for UN Security Council reform. The President of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Dennis Francis, emphasized the G77’s role in shaping a new inclusive world order.

Special Guest Liu Guozhong, representing the People’s Republic of China, expressed China’s commitment to holistic development without conditions. The Summit also featured addresses from H.E. Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar, the host country of the Second South Summit. The Group of 77 was established in 1964 to promote the collective economic interests of developing countries.