Innocent Mujeri
In a landmark address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) today, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called for the immediate lifting of the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the US and Western nations.
President Ramaphosa emphasised the broader implications of these punitive measures, pointing out their effects on not only Zimbabwe but on its neighbours.
“The sanctions that are also being applied against South Africa's neighbour, Zimbabwe, should also be lifted as they are imposing untold suffering on ordinary Zimbabweans but have a negative collateral impact on neighbouring countries such as my own country, South Africa,” said President Ramaphosa.
His call for fairness and justice did not stop at Zimbabwe. The South African President also strongly called for the cessation of the unjust sanctions imposed on Cuba. The sanctions, which he described as unfounded, have been a point of contention in global diplomacy for years.
Earlier in the session, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel shared President Ramaphosa's sentiments, emphasizing the urgency of removing sanctions against both his nation and Zimbabwe.
“Our country is totally under siege,” he said.
President Díaz-Canel remarks resonated with many member nations, highlighting the shared challenges facing countries under the heavy burden of international sanctions.
Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, who also addressed the assembly, pointedly criticised global powers for their continued inaction on pressing social issues, choosing instead to prioritize war and conflict.
In a stinging observation, President da Silva condemned wealthier nations for prioritizing war efforts over crucial social causes.
The Brazilian leader's criticisms took a more direct form when he turned his attention to the UN's own Security Council. He highlighted its inaction and inability to counter some of its permanent members who, in his words, "wage unauthorised wars."
Meanwhile, these profound statements come at a crucial time for global diplomacy, as nations grapple with socio-economic disparities, political conflicts, and the overarching goals of the United Nations.
This year's UNGA, the 78th session, encapsulates these concerns in its theme: “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability for all.”
