During the ongoing Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Munyonyo, Kampala, President Yoweri Museveni has been elected as the new Chairman, replacing President Ilham Aliye of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The ceremonial handover of the leadership took place with H.E. Jeyhun Aziz Ogu Bayramov, the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, passing the baton to the newly elected NAM Chairman.
During his inaugural address at the summit, President Museveni, known for his unique and bold perspectives, took the opportunity to express his astonishment at what he called the 'strategic shallowness' of certain global actors who, despite claiming to champion democracy, fail to respect the freedom of individuals.
In a candid statement, President Museveni emphasized, "We, the resistance fighters of Uganda, are flabbergasted and look down with contempt at the philosophical, ideological, and strategic shallowness of some of the actors in the world. Why not respect the freedom of everybody if you say you are a democrat?"
Expanding on his vision for the Non-Aligned Movement under his leadership, President Museveni advocated for free associations of nations and people with a common or shared origin, collaborating for mutual benefit on the global stage.
"There should only be free associations of nations, of people of a common or shared origin, interacting for mutual advantage with the people of the world," he asserted.
President Museveni outlined key focus areas for the NAM, emphasizing the importance of addressing common human problems through prosperity via trade and the advancement of science and technology. He stressed that a concerted effort is needed to tackle pressing issues such as the environment, crime, and terrorism.
"Our stand is that the world should concentrate on the common human problems – prosperity through trade, the advance of science and technology to deal with human problems, the environment, crime, and terrorism," President Museveni declared.
It gives me great pleasure to welcome Their Excellencies, the Heads of States and Governments and the Heads of Delegations of the NAM Countries. This grouping of countries, accounts for 4.46 billion people of the World.
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) January 19, 2024
It was started by our far-sighted elders in the persons… pic.twitter.com/oG3UqgPFdr
