DJIBOUTI (Halbeeg News) – The United States has congratulated Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh on his election as chairman of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
Guelleh was elected as the chairperson of the bloc during the IGAD Summit held in Djibouti June 12.
In a statement, the United States also welcomed the extension of IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu’s tenure.
“Since its founding nearly 40 years ago, IGAD has been at the center of international efforts to mobilize effective responses to crises in the Horn of Africa, including the ongoing drought and other natural disasters. We also recognize and welcome IGAD’s increasingly active role in conflict resolution in the region,” the statement reads in part. “The United States looks forward to continuing to work closely with President Guelleh and IGAD to promote peace and prosperity as well as regional integration and development in East Africa.”
The summit was the first time the Igad Summit will be held since 2019, and the promotion of regional diplomacy and cooperation will top the agenda.
Formed in 1996, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in Eastern Africa superseded the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD) which was founded in 1986 to deal with natural disasters.
The new bloc was supposed to generate a regional identity and be in charge of resolving regional crises from civil wars to natural disasters and enhancing economic and regional integration.
The current members include Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.
Eritrea, a founder member of IGAD has often been on and off, suspending itself in 2007 before returning in 2016 but still failing to attend most meetings.
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