Somalia joined IGAD foreign ministers in Djibouti for the 74th extraordinary session, focusing on regional security, cooperation and institutional reforms amid growing challenges in the Horn of Africa.
DJIBOUTI CITY, Djibouti — Somalia took part in the 74th extraordinary session of the Council of Ministers of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), as member states met in Djibouti to discuss regional security, cooperation and institutional reform.
Somalia's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdisalam Ali, led the country's delegation to the meeting, which brought together foreign ministers from IGAD member states.
The session comes as the Horn of Africa faces a range of political, security and humanitarian challenges, with member states seeking closer coordination on issues affecting regional stability and development.
Discussions focused on peace and security in the region, strengthening solidarity and cooperation among IGAD member states, and efforts to reform the organisation's institutions.
The ministers also considered the importance of strengthening IGAD's capacity to respond to regional challenges and improving coordination among member states on matters of common concern.
For Somalia, participation in the meeting provided an opportunity to reaffirm its support for stronger regional cooperation and for IGAD's role in addressing political and security challenges across the Horn of Africa.
Somalia said greater cooperation among regional countries was essential to addressing issues that cross national borders, including security threats, humanitarian pressures and obstacles to sustainable development.
The meeting in Djibouti also comes against a backdrop of continued political and security pressures in parts of the Horn of Africa, where conflicts and political disputes have contributed to humanitarian needs and complicated regional cooperation.
IGAD, established as a regional organisation for cooperation and development, has played a role in efforts to promote peace, security and economic integration among countries in the Horn and East Africa.
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Its member states include Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda. The organisation has historically been involved in mediation and peace initiatives in the region, while also working on development, food security and humanitarian issues.
The extraordinary ministerial session provided an opportunity for member states to discuss ways of strengthening the organisation's institutional framework and ensuring that it remains capable of responding to evolving regional challenges.
Somalia emphasised the importance of maintaining unity among IGAD members and strengthening collective approaches to regional issues.
The Somali delegation also highlighted the need for IGAD to remain an effective platform for dialogue and cooperation, particularly at a time when the region is facing interconnected political, security and humanitarian challenges.
The meeting in Djibouti followed a period of renewed attention to the role of regional organisations in addressing crises in the Horn of Africa and coordinating responses among neighbouring states.
Foreign ministers used the session to exchange views on issues affecting their countries and the wider region, with discussions centred on strengthening cooperation and institutional effectiveness.
For Somalia, continued engagement with IGAD forms part of its broader regional diplomacy and efforts to strengthen cooperation with neighbouring and partner countries.
The 74th extraordinary session concluded with member states reaffirming the importance of regional coordination and collective action in promoting peace, security and development across the IGAD region.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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