The IGAD Executive Secretary Amb.(Eng.) Mahboub Muaalim condemned the attack by Misserya elements on a convoy of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and a delegation of Ngok Dinka on 4 May 2013, which resulted in the death of Ngok Dinka Paramount Chief Koul Deng Koul, UNISFA peace keepers and left others wounded. He expressed that this heinous act, threatens the stability of the area and is against the progress recently achieved by the Sudan and South Sudan in addressing their common challenges.

The Executive Secretary extended his deepest condolences to the Ngok Dinka Community, the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the families of those killed and injured.

The Executive Secretary appreciated the prompt actions by President Salva Kiir and President Omar Al-Bashir to calm the situation. The Executive Secretary urges the Government of the Sudan and South Sudan and the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya Communities to exercise maximum restraint and avoid any escalation of this unfortunate incident. He also urged for an urgent, transparent and fair investigation of the act of the violence and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Executive Secretary reiterated IGAD’s continued support for the Implementation of all the agreements signed between the two countries and the final settlement of the outstanding issues including Abyei.

The Executive Secretary of IGAD, Ambassador (Eng.) Mahboub Maalim congratulates H.E. President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan and H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan for their continued commitment to the Cooperation Agreement of 27th September 2012 as illustrated by the successful summit held in Juba, South Sudan on 12th April 2013.

The Executive Secretary of IGAD Amb.(Eng) Mahboub Maalim has met with the Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Abdi Farah Shirdon. Both sides discussed at length issues about the region especially the political progress in Somalia. The Prime Minister of Somalia praised efforts of IGAD in stabilizing the country.

The Executive Secretary of IGAD, Amb. (Eng) Mahboub Maalim has welcomed to the IGAD Secretariat a high level delegation from Finland headed by Foreign Minister H.E. Erkki Tuomioja and Minister for International Development H.E. Heidi Hautala. The Director General for Africa and the Middle East, Risto Piipponen, and Director for Africa Helena Airaksinen were also members of the Delegation, guided by H.E. Amb Leo Olasvirta and Ms. Kaisa-Reetta Karhu from the Embassy of Finland in Addis Ababa.