Somalia

Excellencies, Presidents and Heads of State and Government, Mr. President of the seventy-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr. Secretary-General of the United Nations, Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

Peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you.

It gives me great pleasure to stand before you on this historic platform to participate together in this seventy-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Mr. President,

Allow me to extend, on my own behalf and on behalf of the Federal Republic of Somalia, our sincere congratulations to Your Excellency and to the State of Trinidad and Tobago on your election as President of the seventy-eighth session of the General Assembly, affirming to you Somalia's full readiness to cooperate with you during the fulfillment of the responsibilities entrusted to you. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my thanks and appreciation to your predecessor, Mr. Csaba Kőrösi, for his successful presidency of the previous session.

Mr. President,

In line with the theme of this session, "Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals," I recall the Somali proverb "Aqooni arag kama horeyso," which means "Knowledge rarely precedes vision." Somalia, a country of immense but underutilized potential, God has blessed with a resilient people. We see, without ambiguity, the stark contradictions between, on the one hand, the promising progress on the ground, and on the other, the harsh realities of the challenges we face. It is for this reason that I stand before you today as a witness to the grave consequences resulting from inaction, when the Sustainable Development Goals remain unfulfilled, so that we may fully grasp what this inaction means for ordinary, innocent people.

As we are at the midpoint of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, we must be able to renew and accelerate our work, for the time for complacency has ended. Rising generations expect us, as leaders, states, and international institutions, to intensify efforts to find innovative solutions to our problems and crises, and to establish effective partnerships to translate promises into concrete policies and actions. This is how we fully honor our moral commitment to leave no one behind. This is the best way through which we can ensure that everyone enjoys peace, prosperity, progress and sustainable development.

Mr. President,

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the fragility of our interconnected world, but it also demonstrated the power of solidarity and cooperation that guide us through difficult times.

This painful experience exposed gaps in our capacity to mobilize resources and in preparedness and response mechanisms for pandemic prevention. Therefore, given what is required for an urgent and equitable response to global emergencies in terms of leadership, we must adopt an approach that engages the entire society. This is why we recommend building platforms for policy coordination at the global and regional levels, pooling resources and expertise to strengthen the pandemic prevention and preparedness system. These platforms must adopt an approach that achieves equity, with the Sustainable Development Goals as core principles for enhancing our collective capacity to detect such shocks, respond to them, recover from them, and strengthen our global solidarity.

Just as the pandemic period exposed the disparities and inequities in resource mobilization, the need to restructure the global financial system has never been more urgent, for we live in one interconnected world whose inhabitants share their aspirations and challenges alike. We are therefore in dire need of adopting a financial system capable of addressing these tangible and painful realities. The time has come to move beyond outdated structures and to correct historical injustices, in order to shape a financial system that aligns with the values of shared prosperity and collective progress.

Mr. President, distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

We cannot plant the seeds of stability and progress in soil nourished by principles other than consultation and inclusiveness. Today, our world faces unprecedented challenges, as rates of violence are rising dangerously, and new technologies such as artificial intelligence create for all of us, without exception, new and terrifying risks.

The notable increase in armed conflicts and military coups, particularly on the African continent, is a source of grave concern, given the destructive impact of these conflicts on civilians' lives and the widespread displacement and poverty they cause—matters from which Somalia itself still struggles to recover.

In light of recent global events that bring back to our memory our painful past, we call for an immediate and comprehensive halt to violence and destruction, and we call for commitment to democratic principles and the protection of constitutional systems that guarantee civil liberties.

Mr. President,

Guided by the noble principles of Islam and its authentic traditions and heritage, Somalia, in an era marked by rising hatred and violence, stands as a steadfast defender of the principle of tolerance among adherents of different religions and the promotion of mutual understanding between them. We unequivocally condemn racial discrimination and persecution targeting Muslim communities in many parts of the world, and we firmly believe that we cannot chart our path toward a harmonious world except by embracing diversity and eliminating bias.

The question of Palestine remains a stain on our collective conscience that has yet to be resolved. I affirm to you that Somalia will continue to defend the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and their self-determination. Our solidarity with Palestine, embodied in the "two-state solution" based on the 1967 borders, is a testament to our unwavering commitment to justice, democracy, and the protection of human rights.

Somalia welcomes the new peace plan presented by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, which reminds us that conflicts arise from failure to address problems stemming from inequality. We fully agree on the necessity of exerting efforts to address the root causes of conflicts through inclusive development, dialogue, and the protection of human rights.

Mr. President,

We live in an international system that is fragmented on the one hand and unequal on the other. Therefore, I call upon my fellow Heads of State and Government to work together to reform multilateral bodies such as the United Nations, developmental banking systems, and the UN Security Council, because these institutions, in their current structures, are no longer fit to address the challenges we face today. We must all begin collectively to implement new collective measures to make these institutions more inclusive, transparent, accountable, and suited to their purposes and objectives.

The "Summit of the Future," adopted by the UN Secretary-General, presents a rare opportunity to address these goals. We invite you to champion peace, justice, and the rule of law, laying the foundation for a world in which conflicts are resolved through diplomacy and peaceful means.

Mr. President,

Climate change is a challenge that knows no borders and will not respond to isolated responses; it poses an existential threat to all of humanity and can only be addressed through united resolve.

Extreme climate events, rising temperatures, and raging wildfires that consume communities in unpredictable and often unforeseen ways are all stark reminders that the consequences of collective inaction are no longer a distant concern.

In recent years, Somalia has been caught in a vicious cycle of prolonged drought and devastating floods that have claimed the lives of thousands and displaced millions. It is deeply unjust that Somalia, a country that contributes minimally to global carbon emissions, should bear the brunt of the adverse effects of climate change. From this platform, we call on the international community to support us in addressing this pressing issue and to strengthen our resilience in confronting climate change.

Mr. President,

There is no country poorer than Somalia was in the 1960s. Nevertheless, Somalia has made remarkable progress toward peace and stability, and over the past decade we have begun to witness qualitative and tangible social and economic growth.

Our government has adopted the principle that "Somalia is at peace with itself and at peace with the rest of the world" as the foundation of our foreign policy, seeking peaceful coexistence and effective cooperation with our neighbors and partners to achieve shared prosperity.

Domestically, we have adopted a reconciliatory approach to reach political settlements and strengthen lasting cohesion within our society, while firmly taking action to uproot and eliminate extremism.

Our recent campaign against terrorism has witnessed a qualitative shift—militarily, financially, and ideologically—against the terrorists, and we have succeeded in clearing more than 45% of the areas previously occupied by the terrorist group Al-Shabaab in less than a year.

Mr. President,

Our efforts over the past year have proven that with commitment, determination, and effective cooperation with partners and local communities, terrorists will have no stone left to hide under. This is why we call for the use of a similar approach to eliminate international terrorism. We must also ensure effective inclusion of local communities and protect their rights by providing a window for justice and the rule of law.

I would like to take this opportunity to commend the courage and sacrifices of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia. We also thank the troop-contributing countries and all our partners and allies for their fraternal support.

Somalia is committed to the full implementation of the Security Transition Plan, assuming full security responsibilities upon the complete withdrawal of ATMIS forces by 31 December 2024.

In this context, I would like to reiterate Somalia's call for the complete and unconditional lifting of the arms embargo imposed by the UN Security Council in 1992—the longest-running and most extensive arms embargo of any kind ever imposed. Today, Somalia has stronger administrative systems than ever to control the possession, use, and storage of firearms. Lifting the embargo will enable us to combat terrorism effectively and build a peaceful and prosperous future for our people.

Mr. President, fellow Heads of State and Government, distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

Somalia is close to achieving a brighter future, as we near the accomplishment of three decisive steps this year, namely:

First: Reaching the completion stage of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. We have succeeded in reaching the decision point of this initiative, and we expect to reach the completion point by the end of this year, paving the way for the relief of Somalia's debt burden and unlocking vital resources for Somalia's development.

Second: Reaching the post-terrorism stage regarding the Al-Shabaab (Khawarij) movement. As we continue our vigorous campaign to eliminate terrorism from our midst, we are optimistic about the endless opportunities to achieve social and economic progress in a country free from security threats.

Third: Reaching the post-ATMIS stage—the withdrawal of foreign forces and the state's assumption of full responsibility for its own security—is an important step toward reaffirming our sovereignty, re-establishing the social contract with our citizens, and strengthening a peaceful and cohesive society.

We are ready to rejoin the international community as an active and productive partner. We call on the international community to join us on this journey and to be part of our success.

Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen,

In conclusion: Somalia is a beautiful country, rich in natural and human capital. Our doors are wide open before you to invest in our diverse potential, to cooperate in achieving shared prosperity for all. Invest in Somalia, invest in the future.

Thank you for your attention.