07-11-2017, Djibouti, Djibouti: The intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Planning & Coordination Unit today launched the Workshop on the Elaboration of the IGAD Operational Plan 2018 during an opening ceremony held in Djibouti.

December 14, 2021 (Entebbe, Uganda): The IGAD Security Sector Program (IGAD SSP) has today kicked-off a National Consultative Meeting for Uganda on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), to promote its universality and raise awareness on ATT and that of other relevant regional and international instruments among the national stakeholders as well as build capacities for its full and effective implementation at the national level./p

The ATT is considered an important tool to advance the implementation of the AU Master Roadmap for Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2030. The illicit circulation of small arms fuels and contributes to armed conflicts, terrorist threats and instability in many of the IGAD Member States.

IGAD SSP is mandated to include regional cooperation and coordination and capacity building measures to address the challenges of illicit circulation of SALW and support its Member States in the ratification, domestication and implementation of regional and international relevant instruments; particularly the universal adherence to the disarmament regimes.

The Opening was officiated by Commander Abebe Muluneh Beyene, Director of IGAD SSP and Mrs. Everlyn Kasangaki, 2nd Secretary at Regional Peace and Security Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uganda.

In his opening remarks, Commander Abebe emphasized that the Treaty underlines the need to prevent and eradicate the illicit trade in conventional arms and will also limit their diversion to the illicit market, or for unauthorized end-use and end-users such as terrorism and criminal networks.

Commander Abebe emphasized the role regional organizations like IGAD can play in the area of coordination and cooperation with other member states and partners and as well as information exchange as to assist States Parties in implementing the ATT, in recognition of the voluntary and active role that civil society, including non- governmental organizations, and industry can also play in raising its awareness and purpose.
In reiteration Mrs. Kasangaki highlighted that the IGAD region has witnessed various forms of security threats and pledged government’s continued commitment towards the significant reduction of illicit arms in the region and appreciated IGAD’s efforts and commitment towards this cause.

Furthermore, other objectives for organizing the meeting are to review national action plans in order to Detect, Deter and Disrupt the illicit circulation of SALW and suggest areas of improvement and outline possible areas of support.

Subsequently, in the spirit of acknowledging the aim of the UN Trade Treaty (ATT) the meeting is to establish norms for conventional arms trade and prevent diversion of SALW, thus the national workshop will contribute to the enhancement of institutional capacities of the relevant Uganda government agencies to identify effective measures and activities to strengthen the institutional capacities of the relevant officials in Uganda.

The 4-day consultative meeting is bringing together over 25 senior policy/decision-makers and high-level practitioners from the internal and foreign affairs, security, criminal justice, gender and social development sectors playing a direct role in preventing illicit circulation of SALW at both legislative and operational levels.

The meeting is being organized with the financial support from the European Union through European Union Trust Fund (EUTF), that is being implemented by IGAD SSP and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

December 8, 2021 (MOMBASA, Kenya) : IGAD Foreign Service Institute yesterday inaugurated a three-day workshop on Crisis Management in Mombasa, Kenya.

The workshop will bring together one participant from each Diplomatic Academy from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.

In his opening remarks, the Director of the IGAD Foreign Service Institute, Mr Moussa Ali Meigague declared that crisis management was an important concept in today’s world since it directly affects an organisation’s effectiveness. “We need to address crisis with a more strategic approach”, he said.

The goal of this training is to prepare and equip the IGAD member states with the professional and technical expertise to manage future crises as effectively as possible.

IFSI will support member states in developing and formalising a set of crisis communication tools and procedures that will enable them to better manage crisis situations regarding communication.

Expected outcomes:

• Dealing with difficult, challenging and critical situations.
• Rapid and coordinated response.
• Drawing on specific skills and approaches.

The training was conducted with the support from the European Union through the Austrian Development Agency.

7 November 2021 (Adama, Ethiopia): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Peace and Security Division concluded three days capacity building training on media reporting in conflict situations. The objective of the training was to enhance the knowledge and skills of media experts in conflict analysis and peace journalism in order to contribute to a more positive and constructive role of the media in peace building in the region. Officials from media regulating institutions and media practitioners of state and private medias from IGAD member states participated in the training workshop.  

October 15, 2021 (BISHOTU, ETHIOPIA): The IGAD Security Sector Program (IGAD SSP) has successfully concluded a five-day national workshop on Integrated Border Management for the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The purpose of the workshop was to enhance the capacity of senior government officials in border security and management and promote inter-agency, intra-agency and regional as well as international coordination and cooperation to effectively prevent and interdict the entry or transit of suspected terrorists, foreign terrorist fighters and such other transnational criminals.

Participants included thirty-three senior officials represented by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), Information Network Security Agency (INSA), Immigration, National and Vital Events Agency (INVEA), Federal Police, Customs Authority and Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority.

The workshop was faciliated by local experts and partitioners, and in collaboration with United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT) - Border Security and Management (BSM) Unit, CT-Travel Section, and the UN Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT). The following are some of topics covered during the event:

• Concepts on border management and border security management (BSM) in African context
• Transnational security threats and BSM in the context of the IGAD region
• The role of border communities in BSM
• Good Practices on the Use of Technologies to Prevent and Counter Terrorism at Borders: biometrics and terrorist watchlists
• The responsible use of biometrics in national ID in the context of border security
• One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) concept – the case of Ethiopia-Kenya experience
• Overview of Passenger Data (API and PNR); Challenges to Implementation; Support provided by the CT Travel Programme
• Overview of Passenger Data (API and PNR); Challenges to Implementation; Support provided by the CT Travel Programme

Opening and closing remarks were delivered by Commander Abebe Muluneh, Director of IGAD Security Sector Program. The director noted that “. . . border communities in the IGAD region may not differ much from one country to another with each other than with the nations to which they belong.” Hence, he urged IGAD Member States, including Ethiopia, to empower border communities as key actors towards effective border management and promote inter and intra-agency, as well as regional and international coordination and collaboration.

One of the objectives of the IGAD Security Sector Program is enhancing institutional and human capacities of Member States to effectively address emerging, evolving, and existing transnational security threats (EEE-TSTs) in order to contribute to regional peace and stability, and foster enabling environment for regional integration and development of the sub-region.

The training was conducted with the financial support of the Republic of Korea.