IGAD Secretariat 10d ago

4 June 2026, Djibouti, Djibouti: IGAD Calls for De-escalation in Somalia IGAD expressed concern over reports of violence in Mogadishu amid heightened political tensions in Somalia. The organisation called for restraint, dialogue, and peaceful engagement to safeguard stability and support the country’s ongoing state-building efforts. 5 June 2026, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Strengthening the IGAD–Sweden Partnership IGAD Executive Secretary H.E. Dr Workneh Gebeyehu co-chaired the annual IGAD–Sweden Partnership Meeting with H.E. Magnus Lennartsson, Ambassador of Sweden to Ethiopia, Djibouti, and IGAD. Discussions focused on advancing cooperation in peacebuilding, resilience, regional integration, and sustainable development across the region. 8 June 2026, Djibouti, Djibouti: Strengthening IGAD–Italy Cooperation IGAD Executive Secretary H.E. Dr Workneh Gebeyehu received H.E. Sem Fabrizi, Ambassador of Italy to Ethiopia, Djibouti, South Sudan, and IGAD. Discussions focused on regional peace and security, as well as efforts to revitalise the IGAD Partners Forum to enhance development cooperation across the region. 8 June 2026, Djibouti, Djibouti: World Ocean Day 2026: Protecting Our Blue Planet On World Ocean Day, IGAD reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable ocean governance and the protection of marine and coastal ecosystems across the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Western Indian Ocean. Through its Blue Economy agenda, IGAD continues to promote marine conservation, coastal resilience, and sustainable livelihoods. 8 June 2026, Naivasha, Kenya: Supporting Refugee Inclusion through Kenya’s Shirika Plan IGAD and Kenya’s Department of Refugee Services launched a capacity-building workshop for legislators and policymakers on refugee protection and inclusion. The initiative supports implementation of Kenya’s Shirika Plan and promotes integrated, self-reliant settlements that benefit both refugees and host communities. 9 June 2026, Djibouti, Djibouti: IGAD Bids Farewell to the Russian Ambassador IGAD Executive Secretary H.E. Dr Workneh Gebeyehu bid farewell to H.E. Mikhail Golovanov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Djibouti and IGAD, and thanked him for his engagement and cooperation with the region. 9 June 2026, Washington DC, United States of America: IGAD Participates in the Fragility Forum 2026 Representing the Executive Secretary, Ambassador Moussa Meigague, Director of Health and Social Development, led the IGAD delegation to the Fragility Forum 2026. The global forum brought together policymakers and development partners to exchange experiences and explore solutions to conflict, fragility, and instability. 9 June 2026, Djibouti, Djibouti: Advancing Africa’s Regional Integration Agenda IGAD participated in the Coordination Committee Meeting of Chief Executives of Regional Economic Communities, Regional Mechanisms, and AUDA-NEPAD. The meeting reinforced collaboration with the African Union and regional partners to advance integration, cooperation, and shared prosperity across Africa. 9 June 2026, Mombasa, Kenya: Empowering Emerging Leaders Across the Region The IGAD Leadership Academy, with support from the Government of Japan, launched a leadership development programme for youth and women leaders from across the region. The initiative aims to strengthen leadership skills, foster regional networks, and encourage meaningful participation in governance and peacebuilding processes. 9 June 2026, Nairobi, Kenya: Advancing Africa’s Digital Integration Representing IGAD, the Director of Economic Cooperation and Regional Integration participated in a high-level engagement with Smart Africa, UNESCO, and the East African Community to strengthen cooperation on digital transformation, data governance, and innovation. 11 June 2026, Nairobi, Kenya: Making Informal Cross-Border Trade Count IGAD Member States convened to validate the Draft Informal Cross-Border Trade Statistics Guidelines. The initiative aims to strengthen harmonised trade data, improve evidence-based policymaking, and support regional integration and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area. 12 June 2026, Djibouti, Djibouti: Celebrating Regional Excellence in Sport IGAD Executive Secretary H.E. Dr Workneh Gebeyehu congratulated Somali referee Omar Artan on his appointment to officiate a major European football fixture, describing the achievement as an inspiration to young people across the region.