The United Nations General Assembly has today, Friday, 8 June 2018, elected
South Africa to serve in the United Nations Security Council for the term
2019-2020 as a non-permanent member. This will be the third time that South
Africa will be serving in the Security Council since the dawn of democracy
in 1994. We are humbled and honoured by the confidence the international
community has demonstrated in our capability to contribute to the resolution
of global challenges.
We express our unreserved gratitude and appreciation to the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) that nominated us and our continental body, the
African Union (AU), that endorsed our candidature.
The overwhelming support South Africa received from members of the United
Nations is significant in the year of the centenary of the birth of our
global icon and the founding father of our nation, President Nelson Mandela.
This election comes after a unanimous resolution by members of the United
Nations to convene a Global Peace Summit in honour of President Mandela to
be held in September 2018.
South Africa will use its membership of the United Nations Security Council
in 2019 and 2020 to advance the interests of Africa, particularly the
priorities of the the African Union Agenda 2063.
South Africaˇ¦s tenure will be guided by our commitment to resolve regional,
global and international conflicts and promote inclusive growth as part of
the effort to ensure a better Africa in a better world. We are committed to
addressing the root causes of conflict, including inequality and
underdevelopment, and promoting inclusive political dialogue.
South Africa remains deeply concerned about the emergence of unilateralism
and its attendant threat to the International rules-based system. South
Africa reaffirms the centrality of the United Nations Charter and the
primacy of the United Nations Security Council on issues of international
peace and security.
We reaffirm our commitment to enhancing cooperation between the United
Nations and regional and sub-regional organisations in matters relating to
the maintenance of international peace and security. This will include the
strengthening of effective partnerships between the United Nations Security
Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council. We reaffirm our
commitment to the peaceful resolution of global disputes and the advancement
of inclusive development in accordance with the United Nations Charter and
International Law.
Enquiries: Khusela Diko - Spokesperson on 072 854 5707
Issued by the Presidency
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