Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly called for stronger international action to address growing conflicts and reinforce the tools available to the multilateral system to promote peace and stability.
Madbouly made the remarks during a high-level peace dinner hosted by Finnish President Alexander Stubb under the theme Renewing the Commitment to the Promise of Peace: Harnessing the Capacities at Our Disposal, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. He was leading Egypt’s delegation on behalf of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
Madbouly thanked the Finnish president for hosting the discussion, saying it came at a critical time as the multilateral international system faces mounting challenges that are testing the UN’s ability to fulfill its core mandate.
He stressed the need for a fair and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue, warning against applying double standards to the conflict.
Madbouly said Egypt’s approach focuses on making more effective use of existing multilateral tools. He highlighted the need to reform the UN Security Council, arguing that its current composition no longer reflects today’s political realities and calling for expanded permanent and non-permanent membership.
He also stressed the importance of greater African representation on the Security Council, both to address what he described as a historical injustice and to ensure Africa has a fair voice in decisions affecting the continent.
Madbouly called for renewed investment in preventive diplomacy, noting that countries of the Global South often bear the costs of conflicts even when they are not directly involved. He said addressing the root causes of conflicts before they escalate is essential to preventing widespread human suffering.
He also highlighted the importance of diplomacy and mediation, noting that Egypt has consistently worked to help resolve regional crises. He stressed that mediation must be based on a deep understanding of the causes of conflict and backed by adequate international support.
The prime minister also called for sufficient funding for UN peace operations and realistic mandates for peacekeeping forces, along with the resources needed to fulfill those mandates and ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers.
He further emphasized the importance of peacebuilding in preventing a return to conflict and supporting the recovery of communities emerging from war.
Madbouly called for greater investment in partnerships between the UN and regional organizations, particularly the African Union, saying the bloc can help provide African solutions to African challenges when given the necessary resources.
Concluding his remarks, Madbouly said the tools needed to restore peace, prevent conflicts and sustain peace already exist. He argued that the key question is whether the international community is prepared to use them effectively, consistently and fairly.
He stressed that fulfilling the promise of saving future generations from the devastation of war requires more than the UN Charter, institutions and existing mechanisms, saying it ultimately depends on collective political will to use them.
Madbouly reaffirmed Egypt’s readiness to work constructively with the international community to strengthen the multilateral system, make full use of available tools and renew the commitment to peace through concrete action.
Wed, Sep. 23, 2026
