Djibouti

Madam President,

I would first like to reiterate our warm congratulations to Her Excellency Ms. Annalena Baerbock, President of the General Assembly, for this historic session which coincides with the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. The theme you have chosen for this session, "Better Together: building peace, promoting development and guaranteeing human rights," aptly captures the patient, meticulous, and painstaking quest of the international community since the signing of the United Nations Charter 80 years ago.

We can be proud of the results achieved and the many successes recorded by our organization. Despite a difficult context, nothing should diminish our determination to build a world that is less unequal, more united, more peaceful, and more prosperous. Our gratitude goes to your predecessor, Mr. Philémon Yang, for his openness, his leadership, and his continued efforts throughout the session that has just concluded.

Madam President,

Over the past eight decades, the United Nations has played a determining role in supporting decolonization processes in Africa and Asia, conflict resolution, nuclear non-proliferation, the fight against poverty and climate change, the promotion of human rights, and pandemic risk management. Aware of the need to sharpen its tools, the United Nations has continually undertaken the necessary reforms in order to better fulfill its mandate and respond to the challenges of the moment. Under the leadership of the current Secretary-General, and at the request of Member States, faced with the slow implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and with the aim of building a more inclusive, more effective, and more interconnected multilateralism, we adopted the recommendations contained in the major report entitled "Our Common Agenda."

Faced with the unpredictability of the future and the worsening of certain trends liable to undermine international cooperation, as well as the emergence of new challenges, we, as contracting parties, adopted a Pact for the Future, which includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations. Convinced that we must build a better world in which we will be better together, we agreed on an ambitious program covering issues as important as Peace and Security, Sustainable Development, climate change, digital cooperation, and in particular ensuring that Artificial Intelligence is a technology that benefits everyone, human rights, gender equality, youth and future generations, as well as the transformation of global governance.

These achievements cannot, however, mask the devastating consequences caused by the ongoing geopolitical and geoeconomic fragmentation. Conflicts are proliferating and becoming entrenched from Ukraine to Sudan, by way of the Sahel. The unspeakable horror continues in Gaza; children there are killed with impunity on a daily basis, and famine is used as a weapon of war, without the international community being able to effectively stop the ongoing genocide, as has just been confirmed by the United Nations inquiry report of 16 September, prepared under the direction of Judge Navi Pillay. The norms governing the use of force are violated with frightening regularity, as illustrated by the bombardments, raids, and extraterritorial assassinations carried out by Israel. We condemn the terrorist aggression against Qatar and the violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. On behalf of the President of the Republic, H.E. Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, we reaffirm our solidarity with the Emir, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and with the brotherly Government and People of Qatar.

The Security Council is paralyzed by the now systematic recourse to the veto; international law and the norms that have guided us until now are dangerously called into question; the crisis of trust between states is worsened by the severe liquidity crisis due to persistent arrears in contributions.

Madam President,

The Republic of Djibouti welcomes the recent adoption of the Seville Commitment, resulting from the Forum on Financing for Development. This agreement constitutes, in our view, an important step in the quest for a fairer, more united international financial system in the service of the Sustainable Development Goals. The figures are as telling as they are alarming:

• The world faces an annual shortfall of 4,000 billion dollars to achieve the SDGs;

• Developing countries pay more in debt service than they invest in Health or Education. In 2023, 1,400 billion dollars were devoted to debt service in low- and middle-income countries;

• More than 50 countries today spend more than 10% of their public revenue solely to repay their debt. In some cases, this rate exceeds 20%;

• Public aid, for its part, shows a worrying decline.

According to the latest United Nations reports, only 17% of targets are on track to be achieved by 2030, while 37% are stagnating or regressing. None of the 17 goals is on track to be fully achieved. Hunger is rising, inequalities are widening, and the consequences of climate change are hitting hardest the countries that have contributed the least to the problem.

Djibouti, although a very low emitter, suffers the disproportionate consequences of this crisis: prolonged droughts, dwindling water resources, increased desertification, extreme heat waves, and rising sea levels that directly threaten our coastal areas, where the majority of the population lives. We are convinced, as we recently recalled at the Second African Climate Summit in Addis Ababa, that this urgency calls first and foremost for an effective adaptation strategy.

In Djibouti, the Sovereign Carbon Agency collects carbon contributions on the basis of the "polluter pays" principle and transforms them into adaptation projects for affected communities.

The Seville Commitment offers new hope: it calls for fundamental reform, more inclusive financial governance, and it responds to the long-standing aspirations of the countries of the South. The commitments it contains must be honored. It must not become just another text in the archives of multilateralism. It must serve as the basis for a new global contract, founded on concrete solidarity, responsibility, and shared ambition.

Madam President, Mr. Secretary-General,

Djibouti is committed to transforming its strategic geographic and infrastructural advantages from primarily a transit leader to a fully integrated industrial partner for East Africa and beyond.

In line with its national development plan "Djibouti ICI," we will pursue inclusive sustainable industrialization that adds local value, creates more employment, and benefits its neighboring countries.

Djibouti will leverage its free trade zone, ports, and logistics infrastructure to attract light manufacturing, agro-processing, packaging, and assembly industries that serve regional demand.

Djibouti is a strong believer in regional integration, where each country develops and leverages its comparative advantage to contribute to shared growth and stability.

Just two days ago, on September 27th, Djibouti achieved its first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status with the designation of the Sept Frères Archipelago, Ras Syan, Khor Angar, and Godoria Biosphere Reserve. This major historic step, which underlines our country's commitment to environmental stewardship, strengthens our resolve to develop Djibouti's potential to become a premier destination for eco-tourism.

Madam President,

We welcome the progress made in Somalia in the efforts to implement national priorities, the National Development Programme, and the Stabilization Plan.

We remain concerned, however, about the continuing threat posed by the Al-Shabaab terrorist militia. We salute the contribution of Somali Forces, the African Union, and other forces operating lawfully in the fight against Al-Shabaab, and we recognize the immense sacrifices made. We stress the crucial importance of guaranteeing the African Forces of AUSSOM predictable resources, in sufficient volume, to enable them to carry out their mandate under the best possible conditions.

Djibouti is a major contributor to the African Union mission in Somalia, and then to its Transition (ATMIS), with troops stationed in the following key sectors: Beledweyne, Bula Hawa, and Jalalaqsi in the Hiiran region, Hirshabelle State. Faced with the rise in terrorist attacks, Djibouti answered Somalia's call by signing a new agreement in July 2025 allowing for the additional deployment of Djiboutian forces to strengthen stabilization efforts in the country. We must collectively provide robust support to the Somali Government to assist it in its efforts. We cannot tolerate these terrorist militias continuing their deadly campaign against civilian populations, Somali forces, and international partners, and closing off humanitarian corridors.

Madam President,

We are extremely concerned by the continuation of hostilities in Sudan, in this fratricidal conflict that has lasted more than two years. The toll in human lives lost is heavy, and the costly destruction of civilian infrastructure is disrupting essential services such as water, health, and electricity. The continuing deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation is causing massive population displacement. Sudan, with more than 30 million people in need of assistance according to United Nations figures, faces a catastrophic humanitarian situation that requires an immediate and coordinated response from the international community.

We call for the immediate end of military operations and the establishment of a lasting ceasefire, echoing previous regional resolutions aimed at defusing the conflict. Djibouti, finally, reaffirms its attachment to the Sovereignty, Territorial Integrity, National Unity, and Stability of Sudan, in accordance with regional and international commitments. We reaffirm our determination to work in partnership with regional and international actors seeking a peaceful and lasting solution to the crisis, and we call at all times for placing the interests of the Sudanese people and regional stability at the center of our efforts.

Madam President,

When the United Nations Charter was signed and the United Nations was created, the international community, drawing lessons from the League of Nations, committed to doing everything possible to spare humanity the scourge of a World War. It seems that the promise of a world without war has not been kept, for we unfortunately still face today a certain number of conflict situations, some of them particularly horrific. The most devastating conflict, as old as the United Nations itself, remains Israel's continued aggression and the occupation of its territories. The unspeakable horror that reigns there demands urgent action from the Community, beyond words and condemnations without consequence.

In Gaza and the West Bank, for Israelis, killing seems to be the most innocent of occupations. While the international community works to revive the two-state solution, Israel, for its part, is busy burying not only the idea of two states but also the future possibility of a viable and sovereign Palestinian state. Their dearest wish is to compromise the two-state solution and to bury peace under the rubble of colonization and militarization. But this is, of course, a mission doomed to failure. The Palestinian people are resilient and courageous.

The international community is equally determined, as illustrated by the resolution adopted by a vast majority of Member States at the General Assembly, as well as by the very encouraging results of the international conference of 22 September, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France. We will never say it enough! The two-state solution is the only one capable of meeting the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people and bringing about a lasting peace.

Madam President, Mr. Secretary-General,

The dispute concerning the Ras Doumeira area and Doumeira Island (and Mount Doumeira) on the land/maritime border with Eritrea, as well as the situation of its prisoners of war held incommunicado, remain unresolved. We renew our readiness to work with our neighbors in order to find a peaceful and negotiated solution on the basis of international law. The Republic of Djibouti solemnly reaffirms, in this anniversary year when we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, and as required by Article 33 of this fundamental document, its proposal to negotiate — either through bilateral means, mediation, conciliation, recourse to the International Court of Justice, or arbitration — to settle the dispute in a legally binding and definitive manner.

Madam President, Mr. Secretary-General, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen Heads of State and Government,

The United Nations, 80 years after its creation, continues to offer a platform and adequate tools that we can further refine in order to live better together and respond to the complex challenges our world faces in terms of collective Peace and Security, Development, and Human Rights. We must do everything possible to ensure that the United Nations does not remain a symbolic theater, watchful of its image but deaf to demands for reform, including those concerning the Security Council, by granting Africa the place it deserves, thereby redressing a historic injustice.

The United Nations remains more essential than ever!

We must not make it a scapegoat sacrificed on the altar of our differences and our inability to establish solid bonds of trust among ourselves. We must work together to give multilateralism renewed meaning and to strengthen international cooperation in the interest of all states, small and large.

I thank you for your attention.