Algeria Accuses Israel of Seeking to Divide Somalia at UN
NEW YORK – Algeria has accused Israel of seeking to divide Somalia and criticised its actions in Syria and Lebanon, as Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf used his address to the UN General Assembly to warn of growing regional tensions.
Speaking during the 81st session of the General Assembly in New York on Monday, Attaf also accused Israel of failing to fully uphold the Gaza ceasefire and said Palestinian civilians continued to be killed despite the truce, according to Algeria’s official news agency APS and reports of his speech.
Attaf said Algeria remained committed to Palestinian statehood, reaffirming support for the establishment of an independent and fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
He also condemned what he described as Israel’s continued attacks in Syria and Lebanon and its “efforts to divide Somalia”. The Algerian minister did not provide further details in the remarks cited about what he meant by the allegation concerning Somalia.
The comments come amid heightened diplomatic tensions across the Middle East and growing international concern over conflicts and regional security. UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the General Assembly earlier in the session that conflicts were cascading across the Middle East and called for de-escalation and dialogue.
Attaf also warned of a broader decline in trust between states, arguing that the use of force was increasingly taking precedence over consensus and multilateral diplomacy.
He called for reform of the United Nations system, saying changes were necessary to reflect major shifts in global affairs and to create what Algeria described as a more just, representative and equitable international order. Algeria’s official account of the speech said Attaf viewed UN reform as a necessity rather than an issue that could be indefinitely postponed.
On tensions in the Gulf, Attaf said Algeria was following developments with concern and called for measures to reduce tensions and protect regional security and stability.
His remarks came during the final day of the General Assembly’s high-level general debate, held under the theme “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.”
The speech adds to Algeria’s diplomatic push at the UN this year, with Attaf also taking part in high-level discussions on Palestinian statehood and the two-state solution during the General Assembly session.
By agencies.