13-04-2017, Djibouti (Djibouti): The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), HE Amb (Eng) Mahboub Maalim, yesterday was on a courtesy visit to the Italian Military Support Base in Djibouti where he was welcomed by the Commanding Officer, COL. Gianni Spaziani.
The two parties discussed ways and means to establish cooperation in the area of capacity building within the framework of the IGAD Center for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism based in Djibouti.
The Executive Secretary thanked the Italian government, which is currently chairing the IGAD Partners Forum, for the support provided to the IGAD organisation and Member States.
Amb Maalim then gave a brief overview of IGAD’s role and responsibilities for the advancement of peace, security, development, and integration in this part of Africa. “Our organisation is the regional actor that brings together its Member States to work together on issues that require transboundary cooperation. For instance, we have established five transboundary clusters in the IGAD region”.
The transboundary cluster approach shows IGAD Member States willingness to work together according to the Executive Secretary. “We know that violent extremism knows no borders, it is necessary for governments to work together, and training support provided by this Italian Military Support Base to the IGAD Center for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism is very timely and very welcome”, he said.
The Commanding Officer of the Support Base welcomed the initiative by IGAD and provided a positive feed-back to the request inviting technical staff from both sides to work on finalising the training project.
The two officials exchanges tokens of appreciation and agreed to convene again in order formalize the partnership discussed.
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