By Asha Elmi - Reporter
MOGADISHU, Somalia, September 22, 2026 Somalia said any violation of an Arab state’s sovereignty or territorial integrity concerns all Arab countries, calling for a unified response to regional threats.
Public Works, Reconstruction and Housing Minister Ayub Ismail Yusuf made the remarks at a meeting in New York on Monday held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Yusuf said respect for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of states could not be applied selectively, describing it as a fundamental principle of international law and the United Nations Charter.
The minister accused Israel of taking steps that targeted Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, but did not specify which actions he was referring to.
He said the Arab League and Arab and Muslim countries had clearly rejected those actions, and praised their support for Somalia.
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Yusuf also addressed the conflicts in Sudan, Yemen, Libya and Syria, calling for political solutions, respect for state sovereignty and an end to external interference.
He warned against actions that could extend regional conflicts into the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and called for the protection of coastal states, freedom of navigation and international trade.
Yusuf urged Arab countries to deepen cooperation on economic development, food and water security, climate change, counterterrorism and job creation for young people.
Somalia, a member of the Arab League and a current member of the U.N. Security Council, said it would strengthen coordination between the two bodies and bring the priorities and concerns of Arab countries before the council.