His Excellency Hon. Moses Wetangula, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya and current Chairman of the IGAD Council of Ministers today 29 January 2008 briefed his colleagues the Foreign Ministers of the IGAD Member States on the prevailing situation in Kenya. Following the briefing an exchange of views took place focusing on the political developments that gave rise to the on-going violence leading to loss of lives and property, as well as human rights violations and internal displacement.
The Ministers:
OBSERVED that Kenya has been a jewel of peace in the region;
NOTED that Kenya has been at the forefront of peace efforts of several countries of the region;
FURTHER NOTED with concern the ongoing violence in the country after the December 2007 general election;
The Ministers thus:
OBSERVED that electoral disputes should be addressed and resolved within the constitutional and legal framework available in any member state;
CALLED for a cessation of all acts of violence with immediate effect;
APPEALED to the parties to the dispute to engage in dialogue;
WELCOMED and COMMENDED the efforts of the AU mediation team led by former Secretary General of the UN, Kofi Annan;
OFFERED the parties to the dispute IGAD’s good offices to help resolve the situation.
