WORLD FACES COMPLEX CRISES, CONFLICTS

ANNUALLY, heads of State and governments participate in the United Nations General Assembly.  The Assembly met from September 10 to 28, 2024.  When Global leaders met at the 2024 UN’s Assembly, they were confronted by complex crises and conflicts which have divided the world, like it was during United Nations predecessor, the League of Nations and the cold war period.  

Hopeful

I was one of those not hopeful that the 79th UN Assembly will offer any hope for resolutions of the unfolding global crisis where a Security Council Member – Russia -  is at war with Ukraine, war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and now spilling over the Lebanon Hezbollah, war in Sudan between the Paramilitary Forces and the National Army of that country to mention a few. It is a world where the devastating effects of climate change affect individuals, families, communities and countries yet global consensus on actions to lower the global temperature is still elusive. Inequality amongst countries and populations is another vice that is creating so much discontent and divisions. Sadly, the optimism which was brought by adoption of Sustainable Goals compact has waned in the face of a divided world.

In one of the whatsapp groups for proponents of Pan Africanism, the sentiments are that the United Nations is ‘dead’.  This reaction shocked me!  I then  revisited the United Nations Charter  where in the preamble it states: ‘‘We the peoples of the United Nations  determined  to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.’’ It is unfortunate that the United Nations seem unable to realise the aspirations of humanity as articulated in the UN Founding Document,  hence, the feeling in some sectors of society that the United Nations is ‘dead’.    

Expressed

In fact, the state of UN paralysis was well expressed by the United Nations Secretary General in his opening remarks at the 79th Assembly when he said: ‘‘Our world is in a whirlwind.  We are in an era of epic transformation – facing challenges unlike any we have ever seen – challenges that demand global solutions,  yet geo-political divisions keep deepening.  The planet keeps heating, wars rage with no clue how they will end and nuclear posturing and new weapons cast a dark shadow.  We are edging towards the unimaginable – a powder keg that risks engulfing the world.’’  He further observed these realities: ‘‘A world of impunity – where violations and abuses threaten the very foundation of international law and the UN Charter. A world of inequality – where injustices and grievances threaten to undermine countries or even push them over the edge, and a world of uncertainty – where unmanaged global risks threaten our future in unknowable ways.  These worlds of impunity, inequality and uncertainty are connected and colliding.’’  The Secretary General diagnosis of the global crisis is indeed painting a gloomy picture with regards to the state of the world.

Even in the midst of such unprecedented uncertainty, it was heartening that most members of the United Nations, including Eswatini, have not yet lost hope on this noble organisation.  Just like what the second UN Secretary General, Dag Hammarskjöld said: ‘‘The United Nations was not to take humanity to heaven but to save humanity from hell.’’  It is in this context that the voices of many UN members, in the 79th Assembly, called for respect of the United Nations Charter and International Law.  There was a stronger voice for peace, fight against climate crisis and the need to advance human development through the Sustainable Development Goals.  The Barbados Prime Minister, for example, made this call: ‘‘Mr. President we need a reset and we need to reset.’’
The Summit of the Future, affirmed the desire for a better world for all. The leaders committed themselves to the 2030 agenda including financing for SDGs; youth participation at national and global level; transformation of the paralysed global governance including representation of developing countries in the Security Council; gender equality and empowerment of women and girls; ensuring enjoyment of all human rights; need to deepen partnerships between the UN, stakeholders including civil society, the private sector, regional organisations to mention a few. This period calls for a collective voice of citizens of the world for the end of the world multi crises. There is no room for silence!

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