Somalia is battling the “last remaining pockets of international terrorism while building a strong and sustainable national security architecture,” President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Addressing internal affairs, he highlighted Somalia’s ongoing fight against Al-Shabab and Daesh, portraying Somalia as being on the front line of the battle against extremism and linking progress at home to global security. The government, he said, is dismantling extremist networks not only through military operations but also by targeting the financial systems that sustain them. According to the president, Somalia’s fight is not just a national struggle but part of a wider effort to secure stability across regions affected by terrorism.
Recalling that Somalia was once Africa’s first democracy, he declared that the country is now preparing for its first full national elections in 57 years. More than 30 independent political associations have already registered their participation.
“In Somalia, we are taking responsibility for our own economic development by building on the success of our recent reform-based debt relief,” Mr. Mohamud said, pointing to Somalia’s efforts to mitigate the cost of public service investment. Somalia’s story is one of “real national effort supported by truly committed international partners,” he said, referring to the country’s transition from all-out civil conflict beginning in 2012. “In fact, Somalia is evidence that multilateralism and global solidarity can make the world a better, safer, and progressive place.”
He affirmed Somalia’s commitment to benefit from its strategic location and natural resources through trade and said that to support that ambition, the country has joined the East Africa Community, is ratifying policies aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area, and continues the process of joining the World Trade Organization (WTO).
To combat the adverse impact of climate change, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced the establishment of Somalia’s National Climate Fund to channel sustainable finance to communities transparently, along with efforts to restore degraded lands and strengthen water security. He called on international institutions and capital markets to facilitate “accessible, affordable, predictable, and just” financing for Somalia’s sustainable growth and climate change mitigation.
“Nations on the frontlines like Somalia cannot be left to face this crisis alone, unsupported by the dominant global financial architecture, which is not fit for purpose in this age of great challenge.”
From Somalia’s domestic challenges, the president turned to the global stage. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has urged the international community to act decisively to end the crisis in Gaza, telling the UNGA that the violence and humanitarian suffering demand immediate attention and a renewed commitment to peace.
In his address at the 80th session of the UNGA on Thursday, 25th of September, President Hassan Sheikh said the world has drifted from the principles of international law toward a more dangerous reliance on raw power to resolve disputes. He framed the plight of Palestinians as a moral test for the global community, calling the two-state solution the only realistic path toward lasting peace in the Middle East.
The president has positioned Somalia as both a frontline state in global security and an advocate for fairness in international governance. His intervention added to the chorus of leaders at the UNGA warning that the credibility of the international system is at stake if crises such as Gaza remain unresolved. He underscored Somalia’s solidarity with Palestine, describing the continuing bombardment, displacement, and deprivation in Gaza as intolerable. He pressed for a permanent ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access, stressing that the crisis requires urgent, collective responsibility from all nations.
By aligning Somalia’s position with that of many developing nations, he signalled the growing frustration across the Global South over the lack of progress in addressing Palestinian statehood. His remarks placed Somalia firmly within the bloc of countries demanding a shift from rhetoric to concrete action at the UN.
“Somalia remains deeply concerned by the continued suffering of the Palestinian people. The ongoing violence, displacement, and deprivation faced in the occupied territories, including Gaza, demand our collective conscience and urgent action. We call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access, and renewed commitment towards the two-state solution as the only viable path for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East,” he said.
The president also emphasised his country’s new role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, since its election as a non-permanent member of the UNSC in June 2024, noting that Somalia was working with both council members and the wider UN to push for solutions not just in the Middle East but also in Africa and Europe. He further reiterated that Mogadishu is seeking to expand its diplomatic influence, positioning itself as an advocate for peace and multilateralism despite its own domestic challenges.
