Jan. 10, 2020 (KHARTOUM, Sudan): The Executive Secretary of the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, was in Khartoum on Jan. 8 and 9 to meet with the highest authorities of the Republic of Sudan that are holding the Chairpersonship of the regional organisation.
Yesterday, Dr Workneh met with the President of the Transitional Sovereign Council of Sudan, Lt. Gen. Abdul-Fattah Al-Burhan, at the Republican Palace and in the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Asma Ahmed Abdalla.
The President affirmed Sudan support to the Executive Secretary and to the IGAD Secretariat to ensure the regional organisation meets the aspirations of the countries and the peoples it serves.
Prior to the meeting with the President, the Executive Secretary had paid a courtesy call on H.E. the Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok on Jan. 8. During their meeting, the Prime Minister and Dr Workneh discussed the importance of ownership of the organisation by member states. Prime Minister Hamdok agreed to participate in the laying of the foundation stone to mark a new era with the edification of new premises for IGAD Secretariat in Djibouti.
Also, Dr Workneh yesterday held extensive discussions with the Minister of Foreign Affairs in her office focusing on ways and means to make IGAD a more performing organisation. They agreed on the importance of reforming the regional organisation, endowing it with the revised Treaty, and operationalising the new structure.
The Executive Secretary wrapped up his two-day mission with a press conference at the Republican Palace immediately after his meeting with the President of the Transitional Sovereign Council.
This two-day mission in Khartoum marks the start of a familiarisation tour, which will take Dr Workneh to all capital cities of IGAD Member States in order to hold consultation meetings with the respective Heads of State and Government, Foreign Affairs ministries and other line ministries that the IGAD Secretariat closely works with. The Executive Secretary will also take the opportunity to engage with the media, academia and civil society organisations.
Dr Workneh Gebeyehu is the sixth Executive Secretary of IGAD.
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