Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the 66th United Nations General Assembly, delivering a powerful speech in which he criticized the UN’s inability to demonstrate leadership capable of overcoming humanity’s fears and threats.
“I must speak plainly: the United Nations today is failing to show leadership that can turn humanity’s hopes into victories over fears threatening our future. The UN must restructure itself with a vision focused on protecting the rights of all humanity, not the interests and tutelage of certain countries,” Erdoğan declared.
Highlighting his visit to Somalia, Erdoğan said, “The incapacity of the UN and the international community in the face of urgent problems was something I personally witnessed last month in Somalia. The poverty and pain I saw there are indescribable. The tragedy of tens of thousands of children dying because they lack a piece of bread and a drop of water is a disgrace for the international community.”
Erdoğan continued, “Somalia has been drained of all sources of life by 20 years of civil war. The Somali people are being dragged to death step by step in front of the whole world. Today, the international community is watching this pain as if it were a film. We must urgently confront these images that test our humanity.”
He emphasized that the historical injustices caused by colonialism must also be acknowledged: “We must face not only today’s reality but also the shameful history that pushed Somalia into this great tragedy. The Somali crisis exposes the deep wounds inflicted by the colonial mentality that kept Africa under hegemony for centuries.”
Erdoğan outlined Turkey’s efforts: “Turkey has launched a comprehensive aid campaign, collecting nearly $300 million from our people in just two months, along with over $30 million in in-kind aid. We hosted an emergency OIC meeting in Istanbul, where commitments exceeding $350 million were made. Turkey is determined not only to provide emergency aid but also to build essential infrastructure—roads, hospitals, schools, and wells—to help Somalia stand on its own feet.”
He called on the world to act urgently: “No one can speak of peace, justice, or civilization if they ignore Somalia’s cries. The international community must support Somalia’s peace and stability. We are working to end the civil war and create an environment for lasting political stability and development—not for ulterior motives, but as a moral and humanitarian duty. It is our greatest wish that Turkey’s leadership sets an example for the entire international community.”