President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa Addresses UN General Assembly, Advocates for African Ownership of Wealth and Climate Justice

During the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa delivered a resounding Country Statement, emphasizing the principle that “The wealth of AFRICA belongs to Africans.”

He used this platform to express Africa’s determination to no longer bear the brunt of high carbon emissions and called upon affluent nations to intensify their efforts in combating global climate change.

President Ramaphosa underscored the fact that Africa, despite being the least responsible for the climate damage that has occurred, continues to shoulder the heaviest burden. He eloquently stated,

“Centuries after the end of the slave trade, decades after the end of the colonial exploitation of Africa’s resources, the people of our continent are once again bearing the cost of industrialization of the [Global] North and the development of the wealthy nations of the world.”

He firmly declared, “This is a price that the people of Africa are no longer prepared to pay.”

The UN General Assembly, held in New York from September 18 to 22, 2023, provided a significant platform for President Ramaphosa to advocate for African sovereignty over their wealth and to demand equitable climate justice on the global stage.