06:39Mandatory credit: UNTV News use only
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa claimed that the situation in Gaza was akin to 'apartheid' - and called for 'urgent' reform of the Security Council to include seats for Africa - during his speech to the UN General Assembly High-level General Debate on Tuesday.
"We South Africans know what apartheid looks like. We lived through apartheid. We suffered and died under apartheid. We will not remain silent and watch as apartheid is perpetrated against others," he said.
South Africa brought a case against Israel at the ICJ this year, accusing the country of 'genocide' - which Israel strongly denied.
Ramaphosa also spoke about his calls for reform of the Security Council, which BRICS countries have been demanding, after suggesting the continent needed 'two seats' on the UNSC.
"The Security Council has not fulfilled its mandate to maintain international peace and security. The UN Security Council must be reformed as a matter of urgency," he said, to applause in the hall.
"We would like to see the Security Council more inclusive so that the voices of all nations can be heard and be considered. It cannot remain an exclusive club of just five nations to the exclusion of the many nations in the world," he continued. "There must be greater collaboration between the United Nations and the African Union towards resolving a number of conflicts and also in addressing the root causes of conflicts that continue to rage."
The president also accused "industrialised nations are not honouring their climate commitments" to countries, with Africans "bearing the brunt of what they did not create".
He added that under his country's G20 presidency in 2025, he would "advocate for the peoples of Africa and all of the Global South."
"The disparities in wealth and development within and between countries is simply unjust and unsustainable. We must continue to strive for equal treatment for equal opportunity and advancement for all individuals and all nations," he said.
The UNGA High-level General Debate continues in New York until September 30.
'We know what apartheid looks like' - South Africa's Ramaphosa on Gaza war, demands 'urgent' UNSC reform
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa claimed that the situation in Gaza was akin to 'apartheid' - and called for 'urgent' reform of the Security Council to include seats for Africa - during his speech to the UN General Assembly High-level General Debate on Tuesday.
"We South Africans know what apartheid looks like. We lived through apartheid. We suffered and died under apartheid. We will not remain silent and watch as apartheid is perpetrated against others," he said.
South Africa brought a case against Israel at the ICJ this year, accusing the country of 'genocide' - which Israel strongly denied.
Ramaphosa also spoke about his calls for reform of the Security Council, which BRICS countries have been demanding, after suggesting the continent needed 'two seats' on the UNSC.
"The Security Council has not fulfilled its mandate to maintain international peace and security. The UN Security Council must be reformed as a matter of urgency," he said, to applause in the hall.
"We would like to see the Security Council more inclusive so that the voices of all nations can be heard and be considered. It cannot remain an exclusive club of just five nations to the exclusion of the many nations in the world," he continued. "There must be greater collaboration between the United Nations and the African Union towards resolving a number of conflicts and also in addressing the root causes of conflicts that continue to rage."
The president also accused "industrialised nations are not honouring their climate commitments" to countries, with Africans "bearing the brunt of what they did not create".
He added that under his country's G20 presidency in 2025, he would "advocate for the peoples of Africa and all of the Global South."
"The disparities in wealth and development within and between countries is simply unjust and unsustainable. We must continue to strive for equal treatment for equal opportunity and advancement for all individuals and all nations," he said.
The UNGA High-level General Debate continues in New York until September 30.
Mandatory credit: UNTV News use only
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa claimed that the situation in Gaza was akin to 'apartheid' - and called for 'urgent' reform of the Security Council to include seats for Africa - during his speech to the UN General Assembly High-level General Debate on Tuesday.
"We South Africans know what apartheid looks like. We lived through apartheid. We suffered and died under apartheid. We will not remain silent and watch as apartheid is perpetrated against others," he said.
South Africa brought a case against Israel at the ICJ this year, accusing the country of 'genocide' - which Israel strongly denied.
Ramaphosa also spoke about his calls for reform of the Security Council, which BRICS countries have been demanding, after suggesting the continent needed 'two seats' on the UNSC.
"The Security Council has not fulfilled its mandate to maintain international peace and security. The UN Security Council must be reformed as a matter of urgency," he said, to applause in the hall.
"We would like to see the Security Council more inclusive so that the voices of all nations can be heard and be considered. It cannot remain an exclusive club of just five nations to the exclusion of the many nations in the world," he continued. "There must be greater collaboration between the United Nations and the African Union towards resolving a number of conflicts and also in addressing the root causes of conflicts that continue to rage."
The president also accused "industrialised nations are not honouring their climate commitments" to countries, with Africans "bearing the brunt of what they did not create".
He added that under his country's G20 presidency in 2025, he would "advocate for the peoples of Africa and all of the Global South."
"The disparities in wealth and development within and between countries is simply unjust and unsustainable. We must continue to strive for equal treatment for equal opportunity and advancement for all individuals and all nations," he said.
The UNGA High-level General Debate continues in New York until September 30.