YouSaid · the spoken record

Abdiweli Mohamed Ali

lines on the record: 45
first: 2011-09-24
most recent: 2012-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“It is time for us to reclaim Somalia’s rightful place in the community of nations, to shoulder our duties and obligations, and to place our country in the service of peace, security and prosperity on this planet we share.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Diplomacy is a peaceful calling and the foundation of the United Nations, and we must protect diplomats for their important role in promoting dialogue and better understanding across countries and cultures. The members of the Assembly are not strangers to conflict and war. Many countries have experienced violence and destruction equal to or greater than my own. But few other countries in modern times have experienced such a prolonged period of statelessness: a nation without a recognized Government, a valid passport or a convertible currency. But it is not just the material attributes of statehood that we have missed. To be stateless in this world of States is injurious to a people’s identity, to its rights and privileges as a nation, and to its dignity.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“As Somalis, we have learned this hard lesson through bitter experience, and we are living through it every day, each time another young man chooses to take his own life and the lives of others; each time a young mother has to bury a child. Let us not forget that in rebuilding a nation, or in steering the world to a better place, we are dealing with the lives of human beings, each life as precious as the next. For the future of our children, we must work harder to make our world peaceful and prosperous. In that context, on behalf of the Somali people, I want to convey our condolences to the United States and Algeria on the recent violent loss of their senior diplomats.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Most dear to us is the personal sacrifice made by our African brothers and sisters who came in person to help us protect our country and people. We cannot thank them enough, and we hope one day to be able to repay them. As many today have noted, the United Nations was founded on the conviction that the nations of the world could come together in the spirit of cooperation to tackle their common problems for the sake of the whole of humanity. The world is going through a challenging period — economic crises, religious tensions and resource disputes. Every nation has its own challenges and priorities. And yet we come together as the United Nations to forge a common way forward, because we recognize that this small Earth is all the space we have, and we must find a way to share it and coexist peacefully.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“We recognize the urgency of tackling these threats to international security, but we are also conscious of their complexity and of the fact that lasting solutions can be achieved only through ref lection, consultation, the force of law and only, as a last resort, the judicious use of force. We intend to engage with our international partners on all of these fronts, as we strengthen our internal capacity to address these challenges. The road ahead is long, but we, the Somali people, are committed, and we are ready. We have created the guideposts, and we have chosen a new leadership to help us move forward. We are grateful for the support of the world community; we would not be here today without its moral, political and financial support.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Somalia is a poor country, and we cannot afford corruption. We seek the assistance of our international partners in establishing and strengthening transparent systems of public financial management. The problems of Somalia have spilled far beyond our borders. Foreign countries have taken in hundreds of thousands of Somalis f leeing the crisis in our country, at considerable sacrifice to their own citizens; Somali pirates have become the scourge of shipping far from our shores. Extremists from across the world have used our territory as a base from which to plan and launch attacks against foreign countries. As Somalia reclaims its status as a full member of the international community, we must acknowledge our responsibility as a nation, both for the proliferation of these problems and for their eventual resolution.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Security and durable peace cannot exist without jobs and food, and therefore we must work hard to ensure that food is on the table of the average Somali family, to create job opportunities and to enable Somalis to work for themselves. Our country is abundant in resources; we have the longest coastline in Africa, 9 million acres of fertile land, the highest per capita number of livestock in the world. We have oil and minerals. We are strategically located at the gateway of the Middle East and Africa, at the conf luence of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Our challenge as Somalis is to use those resources to bring our country and our people back onto the global economic playing field. On the topic of resources, we are committed to strengthening the Government’s financial accountability.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“As we move away from transitional Government into the era of permanent Government, we must establish a new compact for national coexistence in which the aspirations of all Somalis, not only some, are reflected. We recognize that the bonds of love and solidarity that bound us together in 1960 have been heavily damaged and sorely tested. The talks initiated earlier this year between the Transitional Federal Government and the Somaliland administration have begun well, and we intend to continue them. We will not use military or political coercion to bring out an artificial unity; we want a genuine unity that results from negotiations, mutual respect and mutual agreement. The durability of our stabilization efforts will depend in large part upon our ability to revive and develop the Somali economy.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The new Government understands clearly that its purpose is not to entrench itself indefinitely in power, but to lay the foundation for a democratic system of governance, anchored in Islamic values and based on universal, competitive elections, by August 2016. The new Government has just four short years within which to establish the states and regions of this federation, and to do so in a way that unifies our people rather than dividing them. We must validate the new Constitution through consultation and referendum, and establish systems of governance that serve the interests of the Somali people. We must design representative electoral systems that serve to heal the divisions of our society rather than to aggravate them.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Let us settle our differences through dialogue and compromise, so that there is no longer any justification for any Somali to take up arms against another. To those few ideological extremists in Al-Shabaab’s ranks who remain committed to the use of terror and the murder of innocents to achieve their aims, we say, “There is no place in Somali society, nor in international society, for you and your violent creed. We will fight you until Somalia is once again a nation founded on the peace, tolerance and management that constitute the true spirit of the great religion of Islam”. As we focus our energies on these immediate challenges, we must nevertheless keep our longer- term goals clearly in view.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Most of its members are ordinary citizens who have aligned themselves with Al-Shabaab out of fear or a sense of grievance. At the same time we must also be honest with ourselves and admit that some of the members come from a nationalist, conservative faction of our fractured country, which has been disillusioned and damaged by decades of conflict, and they have sought refuge in an extreme and harsh source of justice and security. To them we must prove that there is a better way. To them we have always said and will continue to say, “Brothers and sisters, lay down your arms and let us talk”. We Somalis have a saying — after every war comes peace. So let us remember that we have no choice as a nation but to live together.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“It will be important to recognize the existence of other Somali authorities, as well as de facto political and military forces across the country, with which we will work to establish a vibrant, prosperous and stable representative Government democracy, firmly adhering to and grounded in Somali and Islamic values. We will also require a fair and independent judiciary, one resistant to executive interference, and one that will meet the needs and earn the trust of ordinary citizens, while bringing an end to the culture of impunity that has gripped our nation for the past two decades. We have repeatedly extended an olive branch to the Government’s adversaries, and, although this has been repeatedly rejected, our new President will continue to reach out and offer peace. Al-Shabaab is a complex and heterogeneous movement.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Our forces, together with our African Union allies, are making great progress in that regard. But a stable peace cannot be achieved through military means alone. We must practise the politics of inclusion, establishing a credible, representative, inclusive and capable Government — a Government by the people, for the people, not a Government of the few, serving the interests of the few. Initially, that Government must be about delivering real governance and connections with the people. It must be about the process of building local representation, addressing community justice and seeking to build basic services, rather than about distant institutions of Government from Mogadishu, or even provincial centres. Power and responsibility must be devolved as close to the people as possible, in accordance with the principles of federalism.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“When we put our minds to it, we Somalis are capable of overcoming tremendous obstacles and delivering on expectations. It has shown that we can effect our political transitions within our own country. It has shown that Somalis are indeed ready for a new chapter and are calling for a permanent Government that can build on the foundations of this remarkable year. Somalia’s transition has officially ended, but the work of rebuilding our nation continues. The new administration has four short years to translate agreements and objectives made on paper into concrete, tangible progress for our people, and to place Somalia firmly on an irreversible path to enduring peace and growing prosperity. The most urgent challenge is to restore peace and security throughout Somali territory.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“We must build on the return of normality in Mogadishu, and elsewhere in Somalia, and on the growing public confidence in the future. It is the Somali people in the villages and the nomadic pastoralists, with their resilience, drive and dynamism, who are best placed to lend real stability to Somalia’s future. The end of Somalia’s transition was brought about by the tremendous joint efforts of the Transitional Federal Government, Somali regional administrations, civil society and our traditional elders. Against all odds, within one year Somalis were able to adopt a new provisional Constitution, create a new Parliament and elect a new President, heralding the beginning of a new era. This one-year experience has shown several things.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The members of the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation have also extended the hand of friendship to the Somali people during these difficult times. We are especially grateful to the Government and people of Turkey for their faith, courage and leadership in ending our long isolation and building bridges between Somalia and the rest of the world. But now, with all these partners standing by us we must increasingly learn to travel our own path with our own energies, developing the ability to stand on our own feet and step free from reliance on our kind friends. Already, the Somali diaspora from around the world are returning to the country with investment and skills that will build the future Somalia. We can also learn from how peace and growing prosperity have developed in other parts of the country.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Somalia’s progress is also due in great measure to the self less courage and sacrifice of our brothers and sisters in the African Union, including our closest neighbours, whose forces have fought long and hard, with so many laying down their lives in the battle to give our children a better future. With the support of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and other partners, our armed forces are becoming increasingly experienced and capable, but we will need AMISOM’s steadfast presence and mentoring for some time to come, and we call upon our brothers in the African Union to renew their commitment as we move forward to assume our own responsibilities in full. We thank our international partners who are diligently supporting AMISOM, especially the European Union and the United States, among others.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The United Nations has stood by us, providing humanitarian assistance to those of our people in need, helping us to rebuild from the ruins of war, bringing us time and again to the negotiating table to resolve our differences and maintaining the dignity of the Somali nation by keeping our f lag f lying throughout these long, dark years. As we emerge from the long, dark days, I wish to express my personal thanks, and those of the Somali people, to the Secretary-General and his Special Representative, Augustine Mahiga, for their tireless support and crucial role in helping to open this new chapter in Somali history.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“In the coming weeks, the President will appoint a Prime Minister and a new cabinet will be duly established. Let me take this opportunity to convey the sincere regrets of President Mohamud. He would have liked to be here himself to address the Assembly on this great occasion. However, the tremendous scale and urgency of the challenges facing him as leader of Somalia and the demands of his new role did not permit him to travel here to New York to present his remarks in person. He asked me to come here to convey his warm greetings and his vision for Somalia’s future. For more than two decades of crisis, the Somali people have suffered and endured, but we have not done so alone.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“I would like to congratulate Mr. Jeremić on his election as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session and to commend Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser for the manner in which he guided the proceedings of the Assembly last year. Just over two weeks ago, Somalia took a bold and decisive step away from decades of division, disorder and conflict, and instead towards the reconstitution of a more representative, more democratic Somali Republic, at peace with itself, with its neighbours and with the rest of the world. On 1 August this year, a National Constituent Assembly adopted the new Somali Constitution and on 20 August a new Parliament was sworn in, which elected our new President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, on 10 September.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Resolute global action in support of our efforts is now required if we are to consolidate and build on the gains already made and extend them to the rest of the country for the sake of future generations.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Moreover, we fully support the right of Palestine to become a full member of the community of nations. We believe in the two-State solution for the Palestinian-Israeli problem, where Palestinians should be allowed to live in peace and dignity in their own homeland. We have all seen the changes happening in the Arab world. The international community must support the peaceful and democratic aspirations of all peoples. We must also support the National Transitional Council of Libya in order to bring peace and stability to that country. In conclusion, today, the future of Somalia hangs in the balance, and with it the prospects for peace, stability and prosperity in the Horn of Africa and security for nations across the world.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“There needs to be a concerted effort not just to address the causes of climate change but also to mitigate its adverse effects, especially in countries such as Somalia that have contributed little to the problem but are bearing the brunt of its consequences. In that regard, let me reiterate the appeal issued during the recent summit on the Horn of Africa crisis, held in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, for developed nations to facilitate the transfer of technology and build up the capacity of developing nations to adapt to these challenges. Somalia will require assistance to improve water resource management and reduce our reliance on rain-fed agriculture even as we strive to implement the targets agreed to at the Nairobi summit of 10 per cent forest cover and irrigated land by the year 2017.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“As I noted earlier, the international community must urgently reinforce our efforts to extend the zone of safety for aid workers beyond Mogadishu and into these areas. In the meantime, my Government will continue to work closely with humanitarian agencies to collect and share information on needs. We stand ready to cooperate with all actors to ensure that aid gets to the most critically affected populations, wherever they may be. As I stated before, the challenges I have outlined have been aggravated by the increasing cycles of devastating drought that we experience as a result of changes in global climate patterns. We in the Horn of Africa have been affected more than most. As I speak, the region is experiencing its worst drought in a generation. The scale of the suffering in my country is a testament to price we are having to pay.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Although normal to above-normal rainfall is expected to return in the next three months, that is unlikely to result in a significant easing of the crisis in the short term, since the harvest will not be expected until February. In any case, the production from the short rainy season only accounts for a third of the total annual cereal production. The displacement of farmers by the current famine will only further reduce the expected yield. In fact, the United Nations has 11-51372 22 indicated that it expects the famine to spread to the rest of the south by the end of the year. It is therefore critical that we accelerate efforts to reach those in Al-Shabaab-controlled areas, while at the same time ensuring that international humanitarian workers are afforded a measure of security against attacks and kidnappings by the insurgents.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“On behalf of the entire Somali nation, I wish to express my gratitude for the pledges of assistance that we have received from Governments and humanitarian agencies around the world. The greatest need, however, continues to be felt within areas still under the effective control of the extremists, where access by international humanitarian agencies is severely restricted. The insurgents are also hampering the freedom of movement of millions who are trying to reach help, either in Mogadishu or in neighbouring countries. Mr. Mayr-Harting (Austria), Vice-President, took the Chair. Without urgent interventions to change the situation, it is estimated that up to three quarters of a million people may perish in the next few months.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The United Nations has declared famine in a sixth region, which means that up to half the population is now facing the prospect of starvation. Many of our people continue to come to the capital seeking refuge, with more than half a million others having already arrived. To deal with this situation and to oversee the delivery of humanitarian assistance, a high-level committee has been created. As per its recommendations, the Government has established several camps to house and feed refugees. A disaster management agency, comprised of members of civil society, has also been established. We are working with United Nations agencies such as the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Food Programme to synchronize our efforts to deal with the famine.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“With the longest coastline on the continent, bountiful and unexploited natural wealth and an entrepreneurial tradition that dates back to the Roman times, a peaceful Somalia will be a force for moderation and an engine of growth and prosperity for the region and for the continent. Furthermore, the integration of Somalia into the global economy will have a considerable and beneficial impact on the phenomenon of piracy from our shores, which imposes huge costs on global trade. As has been noted by many observers, a lasting solution to this menace is not to be found in policing the high seas. The regeneration of a vibrant economy on land, providing jobs and opportunity for all, is the sole antidote. The humanitarian situation in Somalia remains dire.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The visionaries who founded this body understood that it was impossible to secure economic benefits for a section of the global population as long as these remained a distant dream for the rest, and sought to establish an interlinked global political and economic infrastructure that ensured that citizens in every country could participate in, and partake of the fruits of, global prosperity. I therefore urge the international community to continue its generous support for the emerging economic institutions, as we strive to rebuild destroyed infrastructure and jump-start economic activity in the areas our forces are securing. To the business community I would say that Somalia is truly Africa’s sleeping giant, and a relatively small investment there will go a long way.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“As with the gains in the security sector, in order to entrench and safeguard these reforms and to deliver on the expectations of the Somali people, we in the Transitional Federal Government must improve on our performance and create the necessary conditions for the growth of the Somali economy. However, the scale of the challenge is such that we will continue to rely on the help of our international partners. It is understandable that, in the prevailing global economic environment, many in the wealthier countries will be tempted to look to their own problems, to the detriment of providing aid and investment to their poorer cousins in the developing world. I would caution against this.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“As a result, for the first time in 20 years, Mogadishu is being cleared of rubble, roads are being repaired and streets lit, and 21 11-51372 markets, hospitals and schools are reopening. A register containing the names and biometric data of all the members of the security forces has been compiled, and our soldiers are receiving their allowances regularly. As required by the road map, we have also embarked on the process of identifying nominees for the Interim Independent Anti-Corruption Commission. We are also formulating a national fiscal budget for the coming fiscal year.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We are making good progress in injecting professionalism and transparency into the revenue collection and economic management system, strengthening internal mechanisms governing the distribution of Government money and creating a more open and accountable fiscal and monetary system. The Central Bank of Somalia is up and running. The economic reforms we have made have resulted in the doubling of revenue from the Mogadishu seaport and quadrupled those from the Aden International Airport. The funds are being reinvested in the provision of services to the people as our current capability allows. For example, 15 per cent of the revenue collected from the seaport has been set aside for the rehabilitation of the city.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Reconciliation must become our mantra as we work to further the peace process and create an environment conducive to the delivery of aid. We in the political class must also accept our responsibility for the errors of the past and resolve to do better. The Somali people have had enough of war, hunger, political wrangling and corruption. They demand, and indeed deserve, a Government that puts the national interest before personal ambition — one that fosters unity, not division. The Transitional Federal Government is making efforts to reverse this and to instil a sense of patriotism and responsibility.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In addition, we must also begin to show the people the fruits of peace and democracy and to reverse the harmful effects of radicalization. Somalia needs the help of the outside world to rebuild its economy and provide jobs for the millions of our young people who have been deprived of opportunities by the anarchy of the past two decades. We must show them that there is a better alternative to the barrel of a gun. The effort must begin at home. Let me be the first to acknowledge that we Somalis have made mistakes in the past, which eroded the international community’s trust in our institutions. Somalia can and must do better. In this time of national crisis, we the Somali people must set aside our differences and come together to confront our perils.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The road map has illuminated the path and, although dangers may lie in the shadows, we will not deviate from it. We ask that the Organization continue to accompany us on this journey and to provide the needed resources as we advance towards full sovereignty. Despite the remarkable progress we have made so far, our gains remain fragile and consolidating them will require resilience and unity from all. It is critical that the Somali Army and AMISOM be reinforced as soon as possible, so they can prevent a security vacuum in the areas of Mogadishu recently vacated by the fleeing extremists, and ensure that the city is safe for both residents and aid workers. The immediate deployment of the extra 3,000 AMISOM troops already authorized by the Security Council will be a crucial first step.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Let me also take this opportunity to express gratitude, on behalf of my entire nation, to the African Union, and especially Uganda and Burundi, for the support they have given and the sacrifices they have made to date in this worthy cause. The fact that the conference was safely held in Mogadishu is testimony to the achievements in security that their forces have made possible in the city. I must also thank all the countries represented here for the bilateral and multilateral support given to both the Transitional Institutions and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), without which none of what has been achieved would have been possible. Going forward, as we embark on the final leg of the transition process, we will continue to need the help and support of the United Nations.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Its adoption marks the first of many steps on the path to the eventual conclusion of the transition process in a responsible and productive manner. It has also shed light on the remaining transitional tasks, including the drafting and promulgation of a new Constitution. The Transitional Federal Institutions have committed to meeting the specific timelines and benchmarks for their implementation as outlined in the road map, which will allow the Somali people to monitor our performance in this regard. The support of the international community is also crucial to ensuring its success. Indeed, the conference itself could not have taken place without the continued engagement of the international community.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Somalia’s leaders are redoubling their efforts to achieve national reconciliation and entrench democratic governance. Three weeks ago, with the help of our international partners, we hosted the first national consultative conference in Mogadishu, at which the Transitional Institutions and representatives of regional administrations came together to adopt a road map for the re-establishment of permanent, legitimate and representative Government in the country. 11-51372 20 The conference, which was the culmination of Somali-led reconciliation initiatives dating back to the Arta Declaration of May 2000, represents the best hope for Somalia to establish a firm political foundation from which to rebuild. The road map is a significant achievement for the Somali peace process.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Although the extremists’ retreat from Mogadishu is a welcome development, it may herald a new and more dangerous phase of the conflict, as they increasingly turn to asymmetric tactics such as suicide bombings and the use of improvised explosive devices that target the civilian population. As we continue to build up our own capacities, our security agencies are alert to this threat and have already successfully disrupted a number of planned attacks, including several targeting the hungry at feeding centres. Terrorism preys on decaying States, exploiting their poverty and ungoverned spaces to radicalize, recruit and plan. That is why the extremists have consistently fought against the Somali peace process and sought to destroy the institutions it has generated.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Barely a month after United States forces killed Osama bin Laden, one of his most wanted deputies, Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, was shot dead by Somali security forces on the outskirts of Mogadishu. Shortly thereafter, with the aid of African Union forces, the Somali National Army succeeded in forcing the extremists to withdraw the bulk of their forces from the capital. As a result, we can now begin to provide needed humanitarian assistance to the city’s ever-increasing population of internally displaced persons, who are fleeing the areas still held by the extremists where the famine has hit hardest.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“They are also actively planning to strike further afield. Just this week, one of the leaders of Al-Shabaab said that the group was committed to continuing its battle against the Government of Somalia and was seeking to destroy both the United States and the United Nations. It is also well-known that Al-Shabaab has been focusing its recruitment and radicalization efforts on Somali diasporas in Australia, Europe, Canada and the United States of America. Clearly, the battle against Al-Qaida is one in which we all have a stake, and in which we all therefore have responsibilities. In Somalia, we have been doing what we can, within our limited resources, to fulfil our obligations in this regard.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“It is this small minority, and primarily the Al-Qaida affiliated group Al-Shabaab, that is responsible for the famine currently spreading throughout the country, through their policies of systematically looting grain stores, forcibly recruiting and extorting farmers and their families and preventing access by aid agencies to the most affected regions in the south. However, the threat they pose is not limited to our borders. Foreign fighters have sought to export their noxious extremism to the rest of the Horn of Africa, recruiting and sponsoring acts of terror in neighbouring countries such as Uganda, where last year they murdered 76 innocent people. The insecurity they have created in southern Somalia has led to a large influx of refugees into Kenya and Ethiopia, straining resources and spreading instability across the region.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Decades of conflict, the demise of the central State, poor and kleptocratic leadership and struggles between clans for limited resources, exacerbated by cycles of devastating droughts, have created chronic food shortages and an underdeveloped economy, and driven the population to despair. In recent years, the global terrorist organization Al-Qaida has sought to exploit these divisions and weaknesses to plot and carry out attacks on the rest of the world. Our people know only too well the destruction that a few, blinded by an ideology of extremism and terror, can wreak on a country.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The United Nations was founded on the conviction that the nations of the world could come together in a spirit of cooperation to tackle their common problems for the sake of the whole of humankind. I wish to speak of the challenges facing Somalia, whose effects have found ample expression in the current dire situation in the country, and some of which threaten every country represented here. Let me take this opportunity to thank the Prime Minister of Turkey for his genuine leadership and for highlighting the plight and suffering of those affected by the famine in Somalia. The seemingly unending humanitarian crisis in Somalia has many and varied causes.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Let me take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Al-Nasser on his election as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session. I would also like to congratulate the Secretary- General on his appointment to a second term. We Somalis would like to thank him for his leadership in putting Somalia at the top of the agenda despite so many competing priorities. We hope that Somalia will become peaceful and stable during his tenure. It is my honour to address the General Assembly for the first time as Prime Minister of Somalia. I come here mindful of the enormous challenges at this important moment in our history and determined to act 19 11-51372 boldly in the cause of peace, justice and stability — not only in the Horn of Africa but on the African continent at large and in the world as a whole.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)