Nairobi to Host Special IGAD Summit on Somali Refugees

20th March 2017, Nairobi – Kenya: A special summit of Heads of State and Government will be convened  on Saturday  25th  March 2017 in Nairobi, Kenya bringing  together  member states of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the international community  and  other  stakeholders  to  marshal  a  comprehensive  regional  approach  to deliver durable solutions for Somali refugees, whilst promoting sustainable  reintegration  of returnees in Somalia.

The summit will be preceded  by a special  session  of the IGAD ministerial  committee  on durable solutions for Somali refugees on Friday 24th  March 2017 bringing together ministers responsible for interior, security and refugee affairs from the Horn of Africa region.

More than two million Somalis have been displaced in one of the world’s most protracted humanitarian  crises  that  have  now  entered  its  third  decade.  An  estimated  1.1  million people are internally displaced (IDPs) within Somalia and nearly 900,000 are refugees in the region.

Continuing  political  and  security  stabilization  progress  in  Somalia,  along  with  growing pressures in hosting countries, makes this a critical moment to renew efforts to find durable solutions for Somali refugees. The election of the new President of Somalia in February 2017 and Parliament in December 2016 marks a milestone in the country’s post-conflict transformation.  This provides the opportunity  to accelerate  progress on national priorities, including:  security  sector  development;   completing  the  constitutional   review  process; building State institutions and local government; addressing humanitarian crises shocks and displacement; continuing dialogue with Somaliland; and improving public finance management and revenue collection.

You are most welcome  to attend the official opening  of both events. Please submit the names of those who will cover the events for accreditation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Jane Kariuki, Chief Information Officer,  jaynekariuki11@gmail.com
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For more information, please contact:
Edwin Limo, Director of Communications, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
+254.722.747.476,  limoed@mfa.go.ke

Brazille Musumba, Communications and Media Advisor, IGAD Secretariat
+254.722.617.995,  brazille.musumba@igad.int

Teresa Ongaro, Spokesperson, UNHCR East & Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes Region
+254.735.337.608,  ongaro@unhcr.org