By The Eritrean Mission to the UN,
Mr. President,
I would like to thank you and the members of the UNSC for giving my delegation the opportunity to participate in an agenda item that directly affects my country.
I wish to extend my sincere thanks to the Chairman of the Committee and those representatives from different countries who in defending the principles of impartiality, objectivity and procedures of the UN Security Council have played a constructive role so that the draft resolution could reflect the reality in Eritrea, the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea Region.
Mr. President,
The two justifications for the imposition of the unjust sanctions against Eritrea were crystal clear. They were Eritrea’s alleged support to al- Shabaab in Somalia and the Djibouti Eritrea disputes in the context of their implication to regional and international peace and security, period! Nothing less, nothing more!
Mr. President,
The Somalia Eritrea Monitoring Group has concluded that “it has found no evidence of Eritrean support to al-Shabaab” in Somalia. With regard to the disputes between Eritrea and Djibouti, the Presidents of the two countries have entrusted the State of Qatar to mediate their disputes.
Therefore, since the two justifications for the imposition of the unjust sanctions against Eritrea are nonexistent, the correct, legal and logical action should have been for the UN Security Council to immediately and unconditionally lift the unjust sanctions against Eritrea and terminate the mandate of the Somalia Eritrea Monitoring Group concerning Eritrea.
Furthermore, the lifting of the unjust sanctions will enhance Eritrea’s capability to protect its sovereignty and maintain its security as well as to effectively implement the UN Security Council resolutions that are related to the fight against global terrorism and extremism. The lifting of the unjust sanctions goes also with the letter and spirit of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). “No one should be left behind”. Sanctions, especially unjust Sanctions negatively affect the most vulnerable, in particular children and women.
Unfortunately, because of the misguided geopolitical agenda of the United Sates Administration in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea Region, the UNSC has sadly decided to maintain the unjust sanctions against the people and the government of Eritrea for another year.
Mr. President,
Concerning the current United Nation Security Council’s decision that defies logic and legality, the Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs has put out a statement which for the record I will share it with the Council.
UN Security Council Action Undermines its Own Legal Authority
