Israel’s war against Palestinians has ‘reached catastrophic levels,’ Hamza Abdi Barre tells UN General Assembly Somalia will be a member of the UN Security Council for 2025-2026 WASHINGTON: Somalia’s prime minister told the UN General Assembly on Friday that his country is facing a serious threat to its territorial integrity from Ethiopia that must not be overlooked by the international community. Hamza Abdi Barre said Ethiopia’s collaboration with a Somali separatist group is a “flagrant violation” of his country’s territorial integrity. Ethiopia’s attempts “to annex parts of Somalia under the guise of securing sea access are both unlawful and unnecessary,” he said. “Somali ports have always been accessible for Ethiopia’s legitimate commercial activities as part of Somalia’s commitment to enhance regional trade. “However, Ethiopia’s aggressive maneuvers, including its illegal MoU (memorandum of understanding) with a separatist group in northern Somalia undermines Somalia’s sovereignty and emboldens secessionist movements and is a threat to our national unity.” He said Somalia has the sovereign right to defend its territorial integrity, and called on Ethiopia to cease its provocations and adhere to international law. Speaking about the civil war in Sudan, he called for an “immediate cessation of hostilities and the protection of civilians.” He said Israel’s war against the Palestinians has “reached catastrophic levels” and “has created one of the most severe humanitarian disasters of our time.” Due to Israel’s blockade, he described Gaza as “an open-air prison, where access to basic services and medical care is severely restricted.” He urged the international community to push for a political settlement to end the suffering of generations of Palestinians, and to give them hope to live in dignity and security in their own state. He said Somalia is looking forward to playing an active and responsible role as an incoming member of the UN Security Council in 2025-2026. “We’re fully committed to working alongside all nations to confront the world’s most pressing challenges,” he said, adding that his country is committed to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and creating better economic conditions for Somalis.