The President of the Republic, His Excellency Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, September 24, during the general debate of its 80th session, themed: “Stronger Together: Over 80 Years Serving Peace, Development, and Human Rights.”
In a global context marked by multiple tensions, the Head of State delivered a speech characterized by clarity and responsibility, calling for a redefinition of multilateralism and a collective awakening to address global threats.
In his address, President Faye noted that eighty years after the UN’s creation, the world is facing new turbulence: the expansion of terrorism, persistent conflicts, climate disruption, a weakened global economy, and a decline in international solidarity. “We are living in times of great uncertainty (…) as if we are being overtaken by the excesses that led humanity to two major catastrophes within a single generation,” he warned, denouncing the “double standards” and the prevalence of might over right in international relations.
The President particularly emphasized the security challenges facing the African continent, notably terrorism in the Sahel and political instability. He advocated for predictable and sustainable funding for peacekeeping operations in Africa, with robust mandates and adequate resources, as a prerequisite for restoring stability. “Peace and security come at a cost. Let us equip ourselves to bear it,” he declared, reaffirming Senegal’s solidarity with countries engaged in the fight against terrorism.
Addressing the situation in the Middle East, His Excellency Bassirou Diomaye Faye strongly condemned the tragedy endured by the Palestinian people in Gaza, describing it as “hell for millions of souls.” As President of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, he reiterated that only the creation of an independent and viable Palestinian state, within secure and recognized borders, can ensure lasting peace.
The Head of State renewed Senegal’s call for reform of the UN Security Council, supporting the Ezulwini Consensus, which demands fairer and more equitable representation for Africa. On the economic front, he advocated for more inclusive governance, highlighting the need for a fair global tax framework, better access to credit, and mechanisms to alleviate the burden of debt.
Addressing the climate crisis, President Faye underscored the “double penalty” faced by Africa, which contributes only 4% of global emissions yet bears the brunt of droughts, floods, and food insecurity. He called for a just and equitable energy transition, simplified access to climate funds, and the mobilization of resources for the new Fund for Loss and Damage.
In concluding his speech, the President urged Member States to make the 80th anniversary of the UN not a reflection of a weakened international order, but the starting point for a “renewed and more effective UN, serving the peoples.” “The real obstacle is neither financial nor technical. It lies in political will,” he emphasized, calling for human dignity to be placed at the heart of international action.
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New York, September 24, 2025 - Only the delivered speech is authoritative
Madam President of the General Assembly, Dear Colleagues, Mr. Secretary-General, Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Delegates,
Madam President, On behalf of Senegal, I thank your predecessor and extend our best wishes for success in your presidency of this 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. I reaffirm to the Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, our unwavering support in the exercise of his high office in service to Member States.
We gather today in this symbolic place of universal dialogue, bearing the weight of history and the urgency of the present. The theme of this session, “Stronger Together: 80 Years and More for Peace, Development, and Human Rights,” reminds us of the founding pact of the United Nations—a pact of peaceful coexistence, collective security, and an international order based on the rule of law. On this foundation, the United Nations has made undeniable progress in fostering solidarity for conflict prevention, promoting international peace and security, and resolving disputes. Significant strides have also been made in codifying universal standards for the protection of human rights and establishing a safer, more peaceful international order.
Yet, eighty years after the creation of the United Nations, the world is wavering once again, as if overtaken by the excesses that led humanity to two major catastrophes within a single generation. We are living in times of great turbulence, unprecedented challenges, and multiple uncertainties: the expansion of terrorism, the persistence of old and new conflicts, climate disruption, a deep economic crisis, the decline of international solidarity, and a high risk of multilateralism unraveling. I cannot overlook the resurgence of the arms race, including in cyberspace.
Most concerning is the disheartening dehumanization of a world driven by selective emotions, shaped by geopolitical interests and agendas. There can be no justice based on the rule of law when the international order is governed by double standards, the law of the strongest, and partisan spirit. In this troubling context, Africa continues to face armed conflicts, terrorism—particularly in the Sahel—cross-border crime, and political instability.
In the face of such challenges, our approach must be integrated, combining prevention, resilience, and targeted responses. Peace and security come at a cost. Let us equip ourselves to bear it through predictable and sustainable funding for peacekeeping operations in Africa, with adequate equipment and robust mandates and rules of engagement. This is the only way to combat the scourge of terrorism and restore a minimum of security and stability in affected areas. I reaffirm Senegal’s solidarity with our brotherly nations engaged daily in the fight against terrorism.
In the Middle East, the Palestinian people continue to endure the worst of calamities, beyond what words can express. Under the daily clamor of bombs, all limits have been crossed. We can neither remain silent nor look away. Gaza is no longer a place of life. Gaza, a land of tears, blood, and sweat, has become a hell for millions of souls of all ages, trapped in an open-air prison. Men, women, and children perish daily, deprived of food, water, and healthcare. Senegal reiterates its firm condemnation of this tragedy, which nothing can justify. As President of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Senegal maintains that only the creation of an independent and viable Palestinian state will bring lasting peace to all parties, each within secure and internationally recognized borders.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Eighty years ago, the founding fathers committed, through the creation of the UN, to sparing future generations the scourge of war, which twice in a quarter-century caused millions of deaths and unspeakable suffering. On behalf of Senegal, I pay tribute to the pioneers and all those who have embodied the universal values of the Organization, sometimes at the cost of their lives.
In this world in crisis, our principles and actions must remain steadfast: Peace over conflict; Justice over indifference; Partnership over power struggles.
But this is only possible through a strong and revitalized multilateralism, making it a unique framework for action toward peace and stability through dialogue, consultation, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. The survival of multilateralism demands a return to its fundamental principles: shared responsibility, active solidarity, respect for international law, and universal justice, in accordance with the statutes of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.
Moreover, we cannot ignore the urgent need for reform in global political, economic, and financial governance. The UN, with its universal vocation, must lead the way toward more democratic, legitimate, and representative deliberations and decisions, reflecting its membership, which has grown from 51 in 1945 to 193 today. I reaffirm Senegal’s support for the Ezulwini Consensus, advocating for fair and equitable representation of Africa in the Security Council.
It is also time to establish a fairer and more inclusive global economic and financial governance to address the real needs of financing sustainable development. We all know that public aid is not the solution. Other levers exist, including:
- A fair global tax framework, ensuring that taxes are paid where wealth is generated;
- Access to credit under sustainable conditions, so that debt management does not hinder our countries’ development efforts;
- The effective implementation of the Seville Commitment, the Pact for the Future, and the Sustainable Development Goals to expand access to health, water, food, education, energy, and digital technology.
The climate crisis also demands our attention. It is not merely a threat but an existential issue, hitting hardest those who contribute the least, like Africa, which accounts for less than 4% of global emissions. Yet, droughts, floods, coastal erosion, and food insecurity now shape the lives of our populations. This double penalty has become unsustainable. Senegal reaffirms its commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement and calls for a just and equitable climate transition, leveraging our available resources to ensure universal access to electricity and kickstart competitive industrialization. The fight against climate change will undoubtedly require substantial funding for adaptation, simplified access to climate funds, and guaranteed technology transfers. Senegal welcomes the creation of the Fund for Loss and Damage and calls for the mobilization of international solidarity to build its resources to finance operations on the ground.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, In the face of numerous and complex emergencies and challenges, we are not powerless. The world has the means to feed the hungry, educate our children, care for the sick, and silence the weapons. The real obstacle is neither financial, technical, nor material. It lies in the political will to make multilateralism an instrument of collective solidarity and cooperation rather than confrontation, for a future where human dignity is at the heart of our decisions.
Let us make this 80th anniversary of the United Nations not a reflection of an exhausted order, but the starting point for renewed hope: that of a revitalized and more effective Organization serving the peoples it represents. Senegal remains committed to working toward this goal with all members of the Organization, ready to build bridges, champion reforms, and pursue our shared endeavor for a world of peace, justice, and solidarity.
I wish every success to the proceedings of the 80th session of the General Assembly. Thank you for your kind attention.