President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged G20 leaders to promote diplomatic solutions to ongoing conflicts. These conflicts include among others those in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, the Middle East, and Ukraine.
Speaking during the opening of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Johannesburg, on Thursday, Ramaphosa welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas describing it as a crucial step towards alleviating the humanitarian crisis faced by Palestinians in Gaza.
“This ceasefire must lay the basis for a just and lasting peace, in line with UN resolutions, in line with international law and internationally agreed parameters. As the G20 we must continue to advocate for diplomatic solutions to conflicts. Our own experience as South Africa is that the peaceful resolution of conflict through inclusive dialogue is the foremost guarantee of sustainable and lasting peace.”
The President has asked G20 nations to unite in the challenges facing the world.
“Geopolitical tensions, rising intolerance, conflict and war, climate change, pandemics and energy and food insecurity threaten an already fragile global coexistence. These challenges are interconnected. They require responses that are inclusive and coordinated. Yet there is a lack of consensus among major powers, including in the G20, on how to respond to these issues of global significance. Extreme poverty and growing inequality within and among nations weigh heavily on the conscience of the world.”
President Ramaphosa says that South Africa’s G20 Presidency serves as a great opportunity for African voices to be heard.
“As the international community, we committed ourselves to this very ambitious agenda to end poverty and hunger, to protect our planet, to achieve greater equality, gender equality, to have a universal education health coverage, and to promote decent work and sustainable economic growth. Our commitment is to achieve these targets, we must not waiver from trying to achieve them.”
