President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo on Saturday confirmed the country’s bid to hold the highest office of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.
The eight-country trading block in East Africa is expected to elect its Executive Secretary.
President Farmajo said his government plans to meet the regional leaders to drum up support for Somalia’s candidate for the post.
“The government has committed to retrieve back Somalia’s leadership role in the world. After struggle for longtime, the government succeeded to get the prominent Somali judge elected as the president of International Court of Justice ( ICJ). We are also planning to hold top office of IGAD, for the first time in history,” President Farmajo said.
Mr. Farmajo said Somalia which was one of the founders of the bloc has never contested to hold the leadership of IGAD.
“We were one of the countries that formed IGAD. This time, we have the chance be elected as the leaders of IGAD,” the president hinted.
Inner circles close to the president confirmed that the country wrote to the members to be included at the contenders of the post.
The source said the nation had already submitted the name of the foreign minister, Abdisalaam Hadliye Omer as its candidate for the post.
The members of the bloc will elect new Executive Secretary of IGAD as the incumbent leader, Mahboub Moalim is expected to step down from the office after serving two terms.
Mahboub has been leading the trading bloc since 2009.
Somalia is expected to face off candidates from several countries including Sudan and Djibouti for the post which is rotational turn.
IGAD which was established in 1986 has its headquarters in Djibouti.
Discussion about this post