- He cited unprecedented slow credit growth, persistent negative impacts of climate change and terrorism.
- Nonetheless, he argued that the citizenry remained knowledgeable and engaged in demanding leadership that advocates for their rights to meet their demands.
Image: OPCS
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has noted that the Global South is witnessing challenges that are affecting the bloc's response to calamitous needs of developing countries.
He cited unprecedented slow credit growth, persistent negative impacts of climate change and terrorism.
Mudavadi said the roll-over effects of the rising geopolitical tensions as well as supply chain disruptions, growing inflation, debt costs and default risks have denied poor countries an opportunity to flourish.
He was speaking during a virtual meeting with Foreign Ministers of the Global South during the third Voice of the Global South Summit.
"The Summit offers a unique opportunity to deliberate on the concerns, interests and priorities that affect the developing countries, exchange ideas and solutions and most importantly, unite in one voice and purpose in actualising our shared goals," Mudavadi said.
He noted that the globe faces growing inflation, debt costs and default risks.
Nonetheless, he argued that the citizenry remained knowledgeable and engaged in demanding leadership that advocates for their rights to meet their demands.
In an evolving, unforeseeable and uncertain world, Mudavadi said the Global South must consistently make their voices heard at the global level.
The Prime CS and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary argued that the Global South must remain seized of the geopolitical challenges facing it, particularly in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the ongoing crisis in West Asia.
"The conflicts have had far-reaching impacts, including soaring prices of fuel, food and fertilizers, which disproportionately affect developing nations," he said, adding that deliberations at the Summit must focus on mitigating against these impacts and explore avenues for collective action and resilience-building among Global South countries.
He noted that the conflicts in the Global South are easily forgotten in the global discourse, giving an example of how the crisis in Sudan had been relegated despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary gave an example of the response to Haiti crisis.
"There is need for the Global South to closely focus on the emerging threat of the weaponisation of cyber technology to foment violence and upheaval as recently experienced in a number of countries globally," Mudavadi said.
The Summit brought together ministers and government representatives from around the world to the significant Foreign Ministers session.
During the Third Voice of Global South Summit (VOGSS 3.0), Mudavadi thanked his counterpart, S Jaishankar, for holding the ministerial-level meeting at a critical moment in the global multilateral systems.
He welcomed the Summit's theme, "Global South and Global Governance".
Mudavadi noted that in addition to climate change, it was critical for the Global South to delve into practical solutions to broader challenges including the impact of conflicts and development concerns in the Global South.
He hoped that the outcomes of the Summit will provide action points to address the challenges and translate the discussions to practical objectives, leading to sustainable solutions to enhance inclusive and equitable global political and financial governance.
"Although the majority of these peace and development challenges do not stem from the Global South, we are however, more adversely affected given that we mainly depend on an integrated global economy," he said.
Mudavadi applauded India and all participants at the Summit for acknowledging and prioritising the concerns of developing countries in addressing global challenges.
To accomplish the Global South common goal of an inclusive, equitable, and fair international order, Mudavadi exuded confidence that the Global South will maintain its momentum and speak as one voice.
Foreign Ministers who attended the meeting included those from, Antigua and Barbuda’s, Kingdom of Bahrain, Colombia, Brazil, Nigeria, Comoros, Granada, Guyana, Jamaica, Guatemala, Peru, Sao Tome and Principe, Syria, Türkiye, Egypt, North Macedonia, South Africa and Equatorial Guinea.