Rwanda will chair the Group of 77 (G77) and China in 2027, taking over from Uruguay to lead the 134-member grouping of developing countries within the United Nations system. The election was held by acclamation on Friday, September 25, during the 50th Annual Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the G77 and China in New York, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. ALSO READ: Rwanda to lead largest UN coalition of developing countries What is the G77? The Group of 77 was established on June 15, 1964, by 77 developing countries at the end of the first session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva. The countries signed a joint declaration setting out their common interests. The group held its first Ministerial Meeting in Algiers, Algeria, in October 1967, where members adopted the Charter of Algiers. Over time, the group developed a permanent structure, with chapters and liaison offices in major UN locations. Its membership has since grown from the original 77 countries to 134, but the name G77 was retained because of its historical significance. The group describes itself as the largest intergovernmental organisation of developing countries within the UN system. It is commonly referred to as the G77 and China because China participates alongside the group. The G77 describes the grouping as 133 countries plus China. What does the G77 do? The G77 provides developing countries with a platform to coordinate their positions and pursue common interests within the UN system. According to the group, its objectives include promoting the collective economic interests of developing countries, strengthening their joint negotiating capacity on major international economic issues and promoting South-South cooperation for development. How is the chair chosen? The chairmanship rotates among three regions: Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean, and is held for one year. In 2026, Uruguay holds the chairmanship in New York. For 2027, the chairmanship was allocated to the African Group. How was Rwanda chosen? At the September 25 ministerial meeting, Mario Lubetkin, Uruguay's Minister of Foreign Affairs and chair of the G77 and China for 2026, announced that 2027 was the turn of the African Group and that the group had endorsed Rwanda's candidature for the chairmanship. The candidature had been circulated to G77 and China member states before the meeting. Lubetkin then asked whether the ministers wished to elect Rwanda “by acclamation”. The meeting proceeded with Rwanda's election. The G77's 2026 Ministerial Declaration subsequently recorded that ministers welcomed Rwanda's election by acclamation to the chairmanship for 2027. What does the chair actually do? The G77 describes the chairmanship as the highest political authority within the group's organisational structure. The chair acts as the group's spokesperson and coordinates its activities and collective positions across relevant UN processes.
