Ramaphosa urges countries to shift spending priorities
President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged a shift in global priorities away from military spending.
On Tuesday, he addressed the General Debate at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Ramaphosa said global military spending has hit record levels, money he believes would be better spent on developing vulnerable communities.
"We should be fighting poverty and developing the livelihoods of vulnerable people," said Ramaphosa, adding that global military spending has hit record levels.
Ramaphosa also called out the failure of the United Nations Security Council to respond effectively to worsening crises in Gaza, Sudan, and the DRC.
“The United Nations Security Council has proven to be ineffective in its current form and composition in carrying out its Charter mandate to maintain international peace and security,” he said.
Turning to the situation in Gaza, Ramaphosa said, “There is growing global consensus that Israel is committing genocide.”
“Just last week, the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry found that Israel is responsible for the commission of genocide in Gaza.
“South Africa has acted in the interest of saving lives by insisting that the International Court of Justice should make a ruling that, indeed, genocide is being committed in Gaza and that it should stop. And we stand here to say: it must stop.”
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