A3 JOINT-STATEMENT AT THE UNSC EMERGENCY MEETING ON THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

  Delivered by

H.E. Ambassador Mohamed Rabi Yusuf, Deputy Permanent Representative of Somalia to the United Nations

28th February 2026

Thank you, Mr. President, 

1. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3 members of the Security Council, namely the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, and my own country, Somalia. 

   
   

2. We thank the Presidency for promptly convening this emergency meeting on the situation in the Middle East.

   
   

3. The A3 thanks the Secretary-General for his thorough update on this worrying and rapidly evolving development in the Middle East and its implications on international peace and security. We also echo the Secretary General’s condemnation of today’s military escalation in the Middle East. 

   
   

4. We also welcome the representative of Iran to this meeting.

   
   

Mr. President,

5. The A3 aligns itself with the statements of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, on the US-Iran military escalation, issued on 28 February 2026. 

   
   

6. The reported military strikes carried out by the United States in coordination with Israeli forces against targets inside the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Iran's subsequent response, represent a perilous and deeply troubling escalation—one that marks a serious intensification of hostilities in the Middle East and threatens to engulf the entire region in an uncontrollable cycle of violence, suffering, and pain. 

   
   

7. The A3 condemns the missile and drone attacks carried out by Iran against the sovereign territories of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

   
   

8. The A3 reiterates that ALL Member States must respect their obligations under international law, including the Charter, which prohibits “the threat of the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.”

   
   

9. These actions risk further destabilizing the Middle East and underscore the urgent imperative to safeguard broader peace and internal stability particularly as the geographic scope of military activity expands beyond the initial parties to the conflict.

   
   

10. The A3 remains steadfast in its commitment to the fundamental principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. At the same time, the A3 recognizes the concerns of all States in the region, which must be addressed through dialogue and peaceful means in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.

    
    

11. We believe that all Member States share a responsibility to act in accordance with these commitments, and that these are essential foundations for international cooperation and peaceful coexistence.

Mr. President,

12. The A3 calls for restraint, urgent de-escalation, and sustained dialogue. All parties must act fully in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter to safeguard international peace and security. 

    
    

13. Our position underscores the importance of dialogue, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and respect for international law. It is important for all parties to exercise restraint and responsibility, uphold international law, and avoid any action that could escalate tensions or threaten regional peace and stability. 

    
    

14. The A3 stresses that the spillover effects of these hostilities imperil countless lives and threaten to deepen existing crises.

    
    

15. The A3 expresses its solidarity with the people of the region and reiterates the African Union's commitment to peace, stability, and mutual respect among nations and regions.

    
    

Mr. President,

16. In this regard, the A3 urges all parties to prioritize diplomatic engagement, including the ongoing international mediation efforts facilitated by the Sultanate of Oman, to prevent further deterioration and uphold the international rules-based order. 

    
    

17. At this critical juncture, the A3 calls for a swift return to the path of negotiations as the only viable means to reach a sustainable agreement regarding the Iranian nuclear program. Sustainable peace can only be achieved through diplomacy, not through force.

    
    

18. The A3 strongly reaffirms the urgent necessity of establishing a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction, applicable to all States in the region without exception, in accordance with relevant international resolutions. We also stress the need for all Middle Eastern countries to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, as a step towards regional and global security. 

    
    

19. We emphasize the paramount importance of protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure, including in the context of cross-border strikes and retaliatory actions, and as well as refraining from targeting nuclear facilities that are under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, in line with relevant IAEA resolutions and United Nations Security Council decisions. 

    
    

20. The A3 reaffirms its commitment to multilateralism and the principles of the United Nations Charter. We urge all parties to act with responsibility and wisdom, placing the well-being of the region's peoples above all other considerations. It is important to seize this moment to redouble our efforts for de-escalation and to support a diplomatic process that can deliver peace, stability, and security for all states in the Middle East.

    
    

21. The A3 stands ready to support all efforts, within this Council and in cooperation with regional and international partners, to facilitate a peaceful, inclusive, and lasting resolution to the situation in the Middle East. 

    
    

I thank you.