QUOTES

‘Thirty years ago, South Africa was born as a new nation, equal, united and free from apartheid. We adopted a new Constitution as the birth certificate of our new nation. Our first democratic elections brought the tyranny of apartheid to an end, a system that this General Assembly had declared to be a crime against humanity. The UN was a beacon of hope in our quest for justice. The great wave of solidarity of the peoples of the world, led by the UN, turned the tide against apartheid. Today, democracy flourishes in South Africa… We have just held our seventh free and fair general elections since our democracy, paving the way for the formation of a Government of National Unity. Ten political parties have coalesced around a common agenda for economic growth, job creation, poverty eradication and sustainable development. South Africa is in a new era; an era of great promise.’

– President Cyril Ramaphosa, addressing the UN General Assembly last week

‘For each of these areas, the AU has developed strategies that have subsequently been translated into action plans, although their implementation is seriously hampered by the scarcity of funding and governance deficiencies, which there is no point in hiding.’

– AU Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, speaking at the Summit of the Future in New York where delegates adopted an optimistic agenda covering peace and security, global governance, sustainable development, climate change mitigation, digital co-operation, human rights, gender parity, and young people and future generations

‘His support base includes traditional leaders and some disillusioned members of the ruling BDP, who have followed him since his break from the party,’ Mpani said.

– Nyasha Mpani, a project leader at Institute of Justice and Reconciliation, on former President Ian Khama who has returned to Botswana

‘On the suggestion to transit this into a fully UN Peacekeeping mission, we have absolutely no problem with it, if that is the direction the UN security council wants to take,’

– President William Ruto, who says he is open to Kenya's anti-gang mission in the country being converted to a full UN peacekeeping operation