The recent Non-Aligned Movement summit in Kampala concluded without taking a distinct or assertive stance on the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, despite this being the most prominent topic dominating the discussions of leaders, presidents, and preceding meetings.
The stance of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni was reflective of this as he adjourned the final session and announced the summit’s closure without reading the final statement or discussing the prepared Palestine document, which had been developed through five days of meetings. Instead, attendees settled for discussing the draft document and announcing its general outlines.
In the “Kampala Document,” the political paper approved by the leaders at the conclusion of the 19th summit, the Non-Aligned Movement called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of Israeli detainees held by Palestinian resistance groups.
The participation of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in the final public session of the presidents’ summit was notable as he reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire and the release of detainees. Guterres added that “it is unacceptable for Israel to refuse to recognize the Palestinian right to establish their state,” warning that “the escalation of the war poses a risk to international security.”
The Stance on Palestine
The Palestinian issue imposed itself as a top political priority at the Movement’s meetings, more urgent than other contentious issues, whether in Africa, which hosted the summit, or further afield. With a clear action plan, the “Arab bloc,” as called by the Ugandan Foreign Affairs Secretary-General Vincent Bagire, pushed for a unified stand on the Palestinian issue, led by Palestine’s representative to the UN, Riyad Mansour.
At the continental level, South Africa led the charge in defending Palestine, both openly and behind the scenes. Its Foreign Minister, Naledi Pandor, presented a case explaining the background of the lawsuit referred to the International Court of Justice, which sought an extraordinary ruling to force Israel to an immediate ceasefire.
Supported by its neighbor Namibia, South Africa engaged in closed-door political and legal discussions to include the term “genocide” within the political declaration on Palestine. However, India and Singapore prevented a consensus, arguing that the matter is now in the hands of the International Court of Justice, which has the core competency to define Israel’s legal actions.
South Africa led the defense of Palestine in the conclusion of the Non-Aligned Movement summit (Reuters)
Shifting Positions of Countries
India, a founding member of the Movement, did not hide where it stands on the Gaza war. Its Foreign Minister, S. Jaishankar, stated that “the humanitarian crisis requires a permanent solution, and efforts must be made to achieve a two-state solution.” He added, “We must be clear, terrorism and hostage-taking are unacceptable.”
Delhi’s position represents a reversal from its traditional support for Palestine since the times of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. However, with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s rise to power, India has increasingly tilted towards Israel, initially discreetly and now more openly.
From Nairobi, the surprise—albeit relative—came when Kenya, a country close to Israel, described the suffering in Gaza as “a major problem” and said that “the time has come to stop the military operation.” Foreign Minister Alfred Mutua stated, “The Israeli response to the attacks on October 7 has reached a level where the humanitarian crisis and loss of life have become catastrophic,” but he confirmed that his country would not sever its relationship with Israel.
African Concerns
Economic grievances of African states were also present at the summit, themed “Enhancing cooperation for global prosperity.” Every African delegation’s speech included economic aspirations, and this topic was not left off the summit’s agenda and accompanying activities.
Uganda, the host country, focused on reintroducing its markets as potential destinations for incoming investment, capitalizing on optimistic medium-term economic indicators. Additionally, albeit timidly, there were calls for ending internal African conflicts and disputes, especially the recent crises erupting in the eastern part of the continent.
