Rio de janeiro: The BRICS Heads of State and Government reaffirmed on Sunday their commitment to the principle of 'African solutions to African problems', recognizing the irreplaceable role of the African Union in preventing and resolving conflicts on the continent.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the position is expressed in the Final Declaration of the 17th BRICS Summit, which runs until Monday, with the participation of the Angolan Head of State and President-in-Office of the African Union, Joo Louren§o. The BRICS leaders expressed unconditional support for African efforts for peace and stability, calling for the intensification of mediations, peace support missions, and reconciliation initiatives led by both the African Union and regional organizations.
The participants expressed deep concern at the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in some regions of the continent, in particular Sudan, the Great Lakes, and the Horn of Africa, and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the opening of humanitarian corridors, and the expansion of international assistance to the affected populations.
With regard to the Middle East, BRICS condemned the Israeli military occupation of the Gaza Strip, advocating an immediate and lasting ceasefire, as well as the total withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied territories. The group reiterated its support for the creation of a sovereign State of Palestine, based on the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital, emphasizing that the Gaza Strip constitutes an integral part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and must be unified with the West Bank, under the legitimate leadership of the Palestinian National Authority.
In the field of international governance, the BRICS leaders stressed the urgency of a thorough reform of the multilateral system to make it fairer, more representative, and more effective, with greater inclusion of developing countries, especially from Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. They reiterated their commitment to the comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including its Security Council, with a view to increasing the representation of the countries of the Global South in decision-making processes, so that international governance structures reflect the current realities of the world.
The group advocated an immediate reform of the Bretton Woods Institutions, realigning IMF quotas in a fair and proportional way to the growing weight of developing countries in the global economy, rejecting that this process be done at their expense. They also called for more inclusive and transparent management in these institutions, with greater participation by women and greater geographical diversity in leadership positions.
In the economic chapter, the BRICS expressed concern about the increase in protectionist measures and trade restrictions disguised as environmental objectives, which threaten the fluidity of global trade and supply chains, particularly harming developing countries. They emphasized the importance of a multilateral trade system based on rules, with inclusion, predictability, and equal treatment, capable of contributing to sustainable development and overcoming global inequalities.
Finally, the leaders reaffirmed the role of the BRICS as a platform for articulating the interests and aspirations of the Global South, committed to building a new, fairer, more balanced, and inclusive international order, based on the principles of the United Nations Charter and respect for international law. The BRICS summit, which is being held under the pro tempore presidency of Brazil, also continues with plenary sessions and bilateral meetings between the participating heads of state and delegations.
