Dec. 2, 2019 (DJIBOUTI, Djibouti): The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, H.E Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, today received the United Nations Special Envoy of the Secretary General for the Horn of Africa, Mr Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, in his office at the Secretariat of the regional organisation in Djibouti.
The Executive Secretary welcomed the Special Envoy and thanked him for his kind words during the remarks he had delivered at the 13th IGAD Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Addis Ababa on Nov. 29.
The Executive Secretary committed himself to building on his predecessor’s achievements while taking up the new and emerging challenges facing IGAD Secretariat in discharging its mandate towards peace and security, and regional integration. ‘The IGAD Secretariat will undergo a reform process I will initiate the soonest so as to make the regional organisation an entity that will live up to its member states’ expectations, and that will further contribute to the continental and global agendas’, Dr Workneh said.
Special Envoy Onanga-Anyanga assured the Executive Secretary of his office’s support in terms of advocacy and programming in areas such as peace and security and climate change among many others.
Upon assumption of duties, Executive Secretary, Dr Workneh also received the Chief of Mission of International Organisation for Migration (IOM)-Ethiopia, Ms Maureen Achieng, on a courtesy visit in the IGAD offices in Addis Ababa on Nov. 30. Dr Workneh assured the IOM Chief of Mission that IGAD will stay focused on migration matters and programming while further enhancing relations with IOM.
Ms Achieng renewed IOM’s commitment to their partnership with the regional organisation. ‘We assure you that we will strengthen our resolve and be more innovative to work with you and the IGAD’, she wrote in her congratulations letter upon his appointment sent to Executive Secretary Workneh prior to her courtesy visit.