The President of the Republic of Djibouti, H.E Ismael Omar Guelleh, has taken over the Chairmanship of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
Guelleh took over the Chairmanship of the regional organisation after the Ordinary Summit on Monday.
This comes after Sudan’s term came to an end and follows a decision by the Assembly of IGAD Heads of State & Government on the basis of the newly adopted IGAD Treaty.
During the Summit, IGAD Heads of State & Government adopted and inked the IGAD Treaty, recalling the Directive of the 13th Ordinary Session of the IGAD Assembly held in November 2019.
The Treaty confirms the Regional Economic Community status for the organisation and aligns it with sister Regional Economic Communities (RECs).
At the same summit, Dr Workneh Gebeyehu’s tenure was extended for a second 4-year term as IGAD Executive Secretary.
“I congratulate Djibouti on assuming the chairmanship and thank Sudan for ably steering the organisation during their chairmanship,” he said.
Gebeyehu lauded Guelleh’s commitment to regional cooperation and unity has been instrumental in fostering peace, stability, and development in the region.
Wishing Museveni a quick recovery
The regional leaders wished H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, who was not able to attend the Ordinary Summit due to COVID-19, speedy recovery and good health.
“Please join me in wishing His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda a speedy recovery from COVID-19 which continues to be a threat to all of us. Your Presence at this summit is greatly missed and we look forward to continued engagement and support very soon,” Gebeyehu called upon regional leaders.
Sudan conflict
The summit expressed alarm regarding the continued fighting and the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Sudan and in this regard, commended the relentless efforts of IGAD High-Level Delegation led by H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan, towards the de-escalation and resolution of the conflict in the Republic of Sudan.
The conflict has resulted in immense suffering, with hundreds of people losing their lives, thousands injured and over 1.4 million displaced since the fighting broke out almost two months ago on 15th April 2023.
The summit adopted an IGAD Roadmap for the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of Sudan with the following action points: Include the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia as the fourth member of the IGAD High-Level Delegation for the Peace Process in the Republic of Sudan; and for H.E. William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, to Chair the Quartet; Quartet Leaders to arrange a face-to-face meeting between H.E. Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the Chairperson of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of the Republic of Sudan, and Gen. Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo in one of the regional capitals; Within two (2) weeks secure a commitment from the Leadership of SAF and RSF to establish a humanitarian corridor; and Within three (3) weeks initiate an inclusive political process towards a political settlement of the conflict in the Republic of Sudan.
The summit committed to closely collaborate and coordinate within the broader framework of the Core Group currently composed of AU, IGAD, UN, League of Arab States, EU, Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK, USA, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan towards a single, coordinated, joined-up and comprehensive peacebuilding process in the Republic of Sudan.
It underlined the importance of consultation and coordination with the Government of Sudan regarding all-inclusive efforts aiming at solving the ongoing conflict and appreciated the neighbouring states of the Republic of Sudan particularly the Republic of South Sudan that in spite of their own limited resources and five existing challenges, have opened up their borders to provide asylum and protection to refugees fleeing the conflict situation.
It encouraged neighbouring countries to adopt favourable policies, practices and/or measures that facilitate the movement into and within the territories of the Member States of persons fleeing the conflict in Sudan.
Condemns attack on UPDF troops
The summit also commended the encouraging progress made by the Federal Republic of Somalia for the historic steps taken in organizing elections at National, Parliamentary and Federal Member States levels as well as Security Sector Reforms that have enabled the Federal Security Forces to make considerable gains in the fight against Al-Shabaab.
It further condemned the recent series of attacks staged by Al-Shabaab against civilians and ATMIS peacekeepers and expressed condolences to the families of the victims and the Republic of Uganda for the loss of its brave peacekeepers, and reiterated IGAD’s solidarity and commitment to the fight against terrorism.
The summit was attended by Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti; Malik Akar, Deputy President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of the Republic of Sudan and Representative of the IGAD Chair; Dr Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; Dr William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya; Dr Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia; Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan; Osman Saleh Mohammed, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Eritrea; Gen. Al-Hajj Odongo Jeje Abubakhar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Uganda and Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
Also in attendance were: representatives of the IGAD Council of Ministers and Committee of Ambassadors; H.E. Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary of the IGAD Secretariat; H.E. Hanna Serwaa Tetteh; United Nations Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa; H.E. Xue Bing, Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Affairs of the Foreign Ministry of the People’s Republic of China; H.E. Agostino Palese, Ambassador of Italy to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia accredited to IGAD and Co-Chair IGAD Partners Forum; representatives of the European Union (EU), the Troika Countries (Norway, UK, USA), Japan, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Morocco as well as H.E. Amb. Ismail Wais, IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan and IGAD representative in the Trilateral Mechanism of the African Union, IGAD, and the United Nations for Sudan H.E. Amb. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai, the Interim Chair of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC); and H.E. Maj. Gen. Hailu Gonfa Eddosa, Chairperson of CTSAMVM.
