Borrell Cautions That Gaza Might Turn into “Another Mogadishu”
Josep Borrell, who holds the title of Vice President of the European Union and also leads its Foreign Affairs department, recently addressed the crisis in Gaza at the Rafah border crossing.
Mogadishu (AX) — Borrell underscored the severity of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, comparing it to Mogadishu, the beleaguered capital of Somalia. “What’s occurring beyond this barrier isn’t a natural catastrophe; it’s a crisis forged by human actions,” Borrell stated during his visit to the Rafah boundary, situated on the Egyptian frontier. Heading a European delegation, he labeled the scenario in Gaza as a humanitarian “catastrophe” and called upon Israel to adhere to international mandates protecting civilians.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Borrell lambasted Israel for forcibly evacuating civilians from Rafah, deeming such actions “unacceptable,” and cautioned that ongoing ground offensives could further exacerbate the already grave humanitarian scenario. “Under international law, Israel must ensure civilian safety,” Borrell wrote.
During his media briefing at Rafah, Borrell drew a contentious parallel between Gaza and Mogadishu. “We need to ensure Gaza doesn’t morph into the Mediterranean’s Mogadishu or another Haiti—regions where lawlessness prevails, leaving inhabitants in desperation and subject to gang violence,” he noted.
Borrell’s comments bring to mind his earlier controversial “garden vs. jungle” metaphor, in which he described Europe as a “garden” while referring to much of the world as a “jungle.” This analogy sparked immediate backlash from critics, including the UAE, who accused him of perpetuating colonial and racist stereotypes.
In reaction to the criticism, Borrell apologized, acknowledging any offense caused but defended the metaphor, suggesting it depicted the geopolitical turmoil evident in various parts of the world, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Despite his apology, the defense did little to cushion the blow, as figures like Canada’s UN Ambassador, Bob Rae, and other international politicians condemned Borrell’s statement as paternalistic and reflective of a Western superiority complex over the Global South.
These comments followed shortly after a phone conversation with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, where both reaffirmed their dedication to Somalia’s sovereignty and regional stability. Somalia’s presidency expressed gratitude to the European Union for its continued assistance in combating terrorism and fostering peace in the region.
Borrell had visited Mogadishu back in 2022, praising the nation’s strides in state-building and economic reform.
