Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli recently spoke at the UN General Assembly in New York, emphasizing the importance of legitimate rights and common interests. He began by addressing the Palestinian question, stating that it is not a humanitarian issue or a bargaining chip, but rather a matter of rights, sovereignty, and international law. Madbouli outlined Egypt's position on the issue, which is based on four connected principles: the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and an independent state, the impossibility of normalizing occupation, the rejection of Palestinian displacement, and a settlement grounded in international law and UN resolutions.
Madbouli tied the Palestinian question directly to Gaza, highlighting the need to protect civilians and deliver aid as immediate obligations. He argued that a population cannot be asked to accept a political process while being deprived of the conditions necessary for survival. The Prime Minister also emphasized that displacement, in any form, is unacceptable to Cairo, as it does not produce peace but rather institutionalizes dispossession. He stressed that the stakes go beyond Palestine itself, as the principles that protect every other state are weakened if a people's rights can be indefinitely suspended and borders redrawn by force.
Madbouli then moved on to the region's wider security architecture, stating that a capable national state that embraces all its citizens and legitimate institutions remains the only true foundation for stability. He did not name specific countries but described cases that illustrate a single disorder rather than separate problems. One clear instance is Iran's use of Hizbullah, Iraqi armed factions, and the Houthis in Yemen to extend its reach beyond its borders. This has direct consequences for Egyptian trade and revenue, particularly in the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
The Prime Minister also addressed the situation in Sudan, which threatens not only the country's institutions but also Egypt's southern neighbor, the Nile Basin, and the stability of the wider Horn of Africa. He emphasized the need for a security architecture built on state sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political settlements rather than the backing of armed militias, foreign interventions, or separatist agendas. Madbouli also noted that allegations of external backing for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) form part of the conflict.
Madbouli discussed the situation in Libya, where the conflict has been fueled by outside patronage. However, he noted that Ankara has increasingly moved towards Cairo's position, which is that a unified Libyan state and unified institutions serve everyone's interests. Cairo and Ankara are now coordinating in support of this objective. The Prime Minister emphasized that competition for influence within a fractured state entrenches division, while partnership with a state helps restore it.
The Prime Minister also addressed Egypt's relationships with other countries, including Turkey, the UAE, and Iran. He stated that legitimate interests do not make every instrument used to pursue them legitimate, whether employed by a partner or a rival. Madbouli emphasized the importance of even-handedness in regional relationships. He also discussed the issue of the Nile, stating that Egypt's water security is an existential issue that is not open to compromise.
Madbouli concluded his speech by emphasizing the need for reform in the international system, particularly in the UN Security Council, which he believes still reflects historical balances that have become outdated. He stated that Egypt wants to see reform to mend the historical injustice suffered by Africa, notably by expanding both the council's permanent and non-permanent members. The Prime Minister also highlighted the issue of debt, which is affecting Africa and the countries of the Global South.
Key points
- Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli emphasizes the importance of legitimate rights and common interests in his speech at the UN General Assembly.
- Madbouli outlines Egypt's position on the Palestinian question, which is based on four connected principles.
- The Prime Minister emphasizes the need for reform in the international system, particularly in the UN Security Council.
