(1) Mr. President, allow me, on behalf of the Republic of Djibouti, to extend our warm congratulations to His Excellency Mr. Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh on his election to the presidency of the eighty-first session of the United Nations General Assembly, and to wish him every success in the fulfilment of his mandate.
(2) I would also like to pay tribute to Her Excellency Ms.
Annalena Baerbock for her leadership during the last session, which marked the 80th anniversary of our Organization. The Republic of Djibouti welcomes the choice of the theme of this session: “Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations Organization in the service of all.”
(3) This theme is particularly relevant in the current international context. We are living through a critical moment, exacerbated by the proliferation of conflicts, the deepening of existing crises and the emergence of new crises with devastating political, economic, humanitarian and security consequences. Faced with these challenges, we must reaffirm the essential mission of the United Nations and strengthen renewed multilateralism, more inclusive and more effective, that fully takes into account the interests of all States, large and small.
(4) The region to which my country belongs also continues to face crises whose consequences extend beyond national borders.
Djibouti is following with grave concern the situation in Yemen, whose effects we are directly feeling with the recent arrival on our territory of several thousand people fleeing the violence.
This situation is already placing heavy pressure on the host communities of the Obock region as well as on the reception capacities of the Markazi site.
Djibouti will not be able to shoulder alone the growing needs in terms of shelter, food and essential services.
We therefore reiterate our appeal to the international community to strengthen its support and enable us to respond adequately to this influx, whose number could reach 10,000 persons, according to United Nations estimates.
To prevent the prolongation of this humanitarian crisis, we renew our call for de-escalation and for a lasting political solution in Yemen to preserve human lives.
(5) With regard to Somalia, we remain fully committed alongside the Somali people and Government to consolidating peace and stability.
The international community must preserve the security gains and continue to support the Somali authorities so that they may fully assume their responsibilities and protect their institutions. In this regard, we recognize the crucial role played by AUSSOM in the stabilization of the country, as well as the decisive support provided by the United Nations, in particular by UNSOS.
We hope that the international community will continue to remain mobilized in order to enable Somalis to assume on a lasting basis their security, sovereignty and the safeguarding of the integrity of their national territory.
(6) With regard to the Sudan, Djibouti, in its capacity as current Chair of IGAD, welcomes that brotherly country’s return to full participation within our regional organization, of which it is a founding member.
We call for priority to be given to de-escalation and the resumption of talks. Only an inclusive political solution, placing the Sudanese people at the centre of every approach, will make it possible to restore peace and stability on a lasting basis.
We also call on foreign influences to avoid fueling this war through negative interference.
(7) We also once again extend a hand to our Eritrean neighbour. Djibouti remains convinced that dialogue and negotiation, in full respect for international law, constitute the only path towards a peaceful and definitive settlement of our border dispute, as well as the return of our prisoners of war, who have been held incommunicado for more than eighteen years.
(8) The Republic of Djibouti also reaffirms its unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and its full and complete support for their legitimate rights, in particular their inalienable right to the establishment of an independent and sovereign State. We reaffirm our commitment to a two-State solution, based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine, as the path towards a just and lasting peace.
(9) We strongly condemn the illegal colonization, the violence committed against civilians, in particular by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, forced displacement and any policy aimed at changing the demographic and territorial reality of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The situation in Gaza remains a tragedy that requires an immediate response from the international community. The protection of civilians must be guaranteed, humanitarian aid must reach without hindrance those who need it, and violations of international humanitarian law must cease and must be condemned.
(10) Djibouti will continue to support efforts aimed at putting an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people and ensuring the triumph of justice, peace and international law.
(11) Preserving freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, and more particularly in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, constitutes a major geopolitical and economic issue for regional and global stability. This vital maritime passage is a lifeline for international trade, and any impediment to its free movement would risk seriously affecting supply chains and energy security. Although Djibouti has observed no disruption in passage through the Strait to date, the authorities of my country remain particularly vigilant in the face of the current tensions shaking the region.
(12) Mr. President, the climate emergency constitutes one of the most pressing challenges facing our international community. For Djibouti, an African coastal country, this emergency is inseparable from that of development. Rising sea levels represent a direct and growing threat to our populations and our ecosystems.
(13) Djibouti, like many developing countries, contributes only marginally to global emissions, yet remains particularly exposed to the consequences of climate disruption. This situation underscores a profound injustice: the countries that have contributed least to climate change are often those that suffer its gravest consequences.
We must therefore accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement and strengthen our efforts in adaptation and resilience, in particular through resilient coastal infrastructure, better protection of marine and coastal ecosystems, early warning systems and simplified, predictable and equitable access to climate finance.
(14) For Djibouti, climate action must not be dissociated from development. On the contrary, it must help transform our economies, develop renewable energy, create jobs and open up new prospects for investment and innovation.
It is in this spirit that the Government is working to operationalize the mechanisms provided for under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, through a strong, transparent and credible national framework for carbon markets, in order to mobilize new resources, attract investment, promote technology transfer and strengthen national capacities.
(15) This transformation nevertheless requires resources. Developing countries continue to face high financing costs, external vulnerabilities and limited fiscal space. Access to climate finance and reform of the international financial architecture therefore remain essential. In this regard, the Seville Compromise constitutes an important step, and its commitments must now be translated into tangible results, notably through better access to concessional financing, enhanced debt sustainability and increased mobilization of public and private capital in support of development.
(16) We must also strengthen South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation in order to share technologies, knowledge and solutions adapted to the realities of our countries.
Africa must not be viewed merely as a space of climate vulnerability; it must be recognized as an actor capable of innovating, proposing solutions and contributing to the transformation of the global economy.
(17) Beyond climate action, the 2030 Agenda remains at the heart of our vision for development. Djibouti’s economy is demonstrating resilience, driven in particular by port and logistics activities, trade, telecommunications, energy and investment. Djibouti intends to consolidate its role as a regional platform while accelerating the diversification of its economy.
By way of illustration, as recently as this week, the launch of works for the modern construction of petroleum products storage and transport infrastructure, in particular oil and gas pipelines in Djibouti, which will link Djibouti and Ethiopia, illustrates this ambition for energy sovereignty and security, regional integration and economic transformation.
(18) But growth must above all translate into jobs, social progress and opportunities, especially for women and young people. We are continuing our investments in education, health, human capital as well as in the green and digital transitions. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and implementing the African Union’s Agenda 2063 require a collective surge: the climate emergency demands action, development demands investment, and peace and humanitarian crises demand solidarity.
(19) The digital transition and artificial intelligence also offer new possibilities for accelerating development and improving the capacities of our States. However, their potential can be fully realized only if we bridge the digital divide, facilitate technology-sharing and strengthen the capacities of developing countries. It is with this in mind that Djibouti supports the intergovernmental “Beyond GDP” process, which seeks to complement traditional economic indicators with measures that better take into account the well-being of populations, social inclusion and environmental sustainability.
(20) Djibouti supports efforts to adapt the United Nations to current challenges and strengthen its effectiveness, but we must make it clear that our Organization does not exist solely to balance accounting ledgers, but to serve our peoples and give effect to the decisions we take collectively. Any reform must remain guided by the mandates established by Member States and preserve the balance among the three pillars: peace and security, development and human rights.
(21) At a time when the term of office of the outgoing Secretary-General, H.E. António Guterres, is soon coming to an end, I wish, on behalf of my President, His Excellency Ismail Omar Guelleh, to express our deep gratitude for the years of service he has devoted to the United Nations.
We wish him all the best and we sincerely thank him for his invaluable contribution to peace and global justice
(22) Lastly, we are following very closely the process aimed at identifying the most qualified person to serve as Secretary-General of the United Nations for the next term. This selection must be guided by competence, professional integrity, an unequivocal commitment to respect for international law and the ability to carry forward with rigor the reforms on which the Member States have collectively agreed.
I thank you.