The 14th Ordinary Session of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government was held on Monday, 12th June 2023, in Djibouti, the Republic of Djibouti, and was chaired by H.E. Malik Agar, the Deputy Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of the Republic of the Sudan and representative of the Chair of the IGAD Heads of State and Government; and was attended by: H.E. Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti; H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; H.E. Dr. William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya; H.E. Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia; H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit; President of the Republic of South Sudan; H.E. Osman Saleh Mohammed Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Eritrea and H.E. Gen. Al-Hajj Odongo Jeje Abubakhar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda.
Also in attendance were, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission; representatives of the IGAD Council of Ministers and Committee of Ambassadors; H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary of the IGAD Secretariat; H.E. Hanna Serwaa Tetteh; United Nations Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa; H.E. Xue Bing, Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Affairs of the Foreign Ministry of the People’s Republic of China; H.E. Shimizu Shinsuke, Japan Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa; H.E. Sylivie Tabesse, Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Djibouti and IGAD representing Member States of the European Union;
H.E. Agostino Palese, Ambassador of Italy to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia accredited to IGAD and Co-Chair IGAD Partners Forum;
H.E Mario Fernandez, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires a.i, as well as Ambassadors and Designated Representatives of Canada, Germany, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Norway, Sweden, Türkiye, and the United Kingdom as well as H.E. Amb. Ismail Wais, IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan and IGAD representative in the Trilateral Mechanism of the African Union, IGAD, and the UN; H.E. Amb. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai, Interim Chair of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC); and H.E. Maj. Gen. Hailu Gonfa Eddosa, Chairperson of the IGAD South Sudan Ceasefire & Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring & Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM).
Arising from deliberations that followed statements by H.E. Malik Agar, the Deputy Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of the Republic of the Sudan and representative of the Chair of the IGAD Heads of State and Government; the special report tabled by H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan, and convener of the IGAD High- Level Delegation, on the Situation in the Republic of Sudan, and reports tabled by H.E. Workneh Gebeyehu (PhD), Executive Secretary of IGAD on the performance of the Secretariat, draft IGAD Treaty as well as the peace and security and humanitarian situation in the region;
The Assembly,
Thanked the people and Government of the Republic of Djibouti for hosting the 14th Ordinary Session of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government and the warm welcome extended to delegates from Member States and other participants;
Congratulated the People and Government of the Republic of Djibouti on the 46th Anniversary of independence as they prepare to celebrate on 27th of June;
Wished H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, who was unable to attend the Ordinary Summit having contracted COVID-19, speedy recovery and good health;
Welcomed the return of the State of Eritrea to the IGAD Family and the resumption of its contribution and participation in the work of the Authority; Noted the progress made in the area of peace and security in the region and the active role played by IGAD and the Executive Secretary in peace-making and peace-building efforts in the region; and in this regard, committed to promote the equal participation of Women and mainstream gender considerations in IGAD’s work relating to peace and security;
Congratulated Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda for successfully holding peaceful elections that contribute to strengthening the culture of democracy and rule of law in the region, and the Republic of Kenya for continuing to lead by example in resolving electoral disputes through legal avenues;
Congratulated the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for the Agreement on Permanent Cessation of Hostilities and Silencing of the Guns in Northern Ethiopia signed on 2nd November 2022 as well as the Declaration of Senior Commanders on Modalities for the Implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities signed on 12th November 2022; and Called on the peace partners to maintain the momentum towards full and timely realization of the provisions of the agreement;
Commended the African Union, the AU High-Level Panel, and the African Union Commission, the AU Monitoring, Verification, and Compliance Mission, the IGAD Executive Secretary for supporting the implementation of this AU-led and Ethiopian-owned successful peace process;
Further Commended the efforts of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to design and implement a nationally owned transitional justice policy based on accountability, truth, healing, and reconciliation through nationwide consultations and Called Upon the international community to support Ethiopia’s efforts in this regard;
Appealed to regional and international partners to support Ethiopia`s efforts for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of conflict-affected areas in Northern Ethiopia;
Expressed alarm regarding the continued fighting and the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Sudan and in this regard, commended the unrelenting efforts of IGAD High-Level Delegation led by H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan, towards the de-escalation of armed engagements and resolution of the conflict in the Republic of Sudan;
Adopted the IGAD Roadmap for the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of Sudan with the following action points:
- Include the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia as the fourth member of the IGAD High-Level Delegation for the Peace Process in the Republic of Sudan; and for H.E. William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, to Chair the Quartet Countries of the Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan and for the Quartet to work in close coordination with the African Union Commission;
- Within ten (10) days, the Quartet to arrange face-to-face meeting between H.E. Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the Chairperson of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of the Republic of Sudan, and Gen. Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo in one of the regional capitals;
- Within two (2) weeks secure a commitment from the leadership of SAF and RSF to establish a humanitarian corridor;
- Within three (3) weeks initiate an inclusive political process towards a political settlement of the conflict in the Republic of Sudan;
Underlined the importance of consultation and coordination with the Government of the Sudan regarding all-inclusive efforts aiming at solving the ongoing conflict;
Appreciated the neighbouring states of the Republic of Sudan particularly the Republic of South Sudan that in spite of their own limited resources and existing challenges, have opened their borders to provide asylum and protection to refugees fleeing the conflict situation; and encouraged neighbouring countries to adopt favourable policies, practices and measures that facilitate the movement into and within the territories of Member States;
Commended the encouraging progress made by the Federal Republic of Somalia for the historic steps taken in holding elections at National, Parliamentary and Federal Member States levels as well as Security Sector Reforms that have enabled the Federal Security Forces to make considerable gains in the fight against Al-Shabaab;
Condemned the recent series of attacks staged by Al-Shabaab against civilians and ATMIS peacekeepers; expressed condolences to the families of the victims and to the Republic of Uganda for the loss of its brave peacekeepers, and reiterated IGAD’s solidarity and commitment in the fight against terrorism;
Called on the international community to extend the requisite political and financial support for the Somali National Consultative Council towards the finalization of the constitutional document and election model as well as its stabilization strategy;
Called for the lifting of arms embargoes and sanctions that obstruct the full capacitation of Somali security forces to combat Al-Shabaab and other similar threats to national security;
Urged the warring parties in Las Anod to immediately cease hostilities and peacefully resolve differences through discussion and dialogue;
Noting the commitment of the leadership of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RT-GoNU) to hold national elections two (2) months before the end of the extended Transitional Period as stipulated in the 2022 Roadmap, urged the RT-GoNU to expedite the implementation of key tasks that are critical for conducting elections particularly; graduation and redeployment of Necessary Unified Forces; completion of the permanent constitution-making process; enactment of the National Electoral Commissions Act and reconstitution of the National Electoral Commission and Political Parties Council;
Lauded H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit and First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar, for their statesmanship and wisdom in amicably resolving the dispute that arose over changes in the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs and the Ministry of Interior and called on the two leaders and other peace partners to strengthen and adhere to this culture of dialogue, collegiality and compromise in peacefully resolving differences and disputes that may arise in the course of implementation;
Concerned by the dire financial situation that IGAD agreement monitoring mechanisms find themselves in particularly CTSAMVM and R-JMEC as a result of significant scale down of support by partners, Called on Member States to fill in this gap by availing and mobilizing the required financial and political support for the two Agreement Mechanisms to be able to fully and effectively discharge their mandates;
Cognizant of the fact that IGAD is one of the regions that produces the lowest carbon emissions in the world, it is nevertheless one of the most affected by climate change, Decided to endorse the recommendations of the high-level inter-ministerial meeting at the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), to establish the IGAD Climate Security Coordination Mechanism and encouraged cooperation with the AU and the UN to build the capacity of IGAD member states to anticipate, prevent and mitigate the outset of climate-induced conflict and displacement;
Commended the efforts of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to combat climate change and environmental degradation through the Green Legacy Initiative and called for wider experience-sharing of climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies among IGAD Member States in pursuit of a coordinated and comprehensive regional climate-change response strategy;
Underscoring the vulnerability of the region to natural calamities that significantly contribute to conflict, displacement, food insecurity, and vulnerability to endemic and pandemic diseases particularly in refugee settings called on Member States to implement the IGAD Disaster Response Strategy by incorporating its critical elements in national disaster response plans;
Recalling the Nairobi Declaration and Action Plan on Refugees, Returnees and Host Communities adopted during the Special Summit of IGAD Heads of State and Government held in Nairobi, Kenya, on 25th March 2017; Decided in light of the recent conflict situations in the region, to intensify efforts to mobilize the support of the international community, towards the realization of comprehensive regional approaches that deliver durable solutions for displaced populations, whilst maintaining protection and promoting self-reliance in the countries of asylum;
Further Recalling the adoption of the Protocols on Free Movement of Persons and Transhumance and the accompanying roadmaps for implementation by Member States; and Appreciating Member States that have already signed the IGAD Protocols Appealed to Member States that have not yet done so to sign the Protocols to facilitate ratification, domestication and implementation;
Expressed gratitude to H.E. Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of the Republic of Sudan, for ably chairing IGAD over the past four years and Appointed H.E. Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti, as the new Chair of IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government and H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan, as the Deputy Chair;
Renewed the term of the IGAD Executive Secretary, H.E. Workneh Gebeyehu, for a period of 4 years upon expiry of the current tenure of office on 28th November 2023;
Adopted the IGAD Treaty which will replace the 1996 Agreement Establishing IGAD in fulfilment of the decision of the 13th Ordinary IGAD Summit to reform the Authority to be a rule-based, effective and predictable organisation and meet the need to establish a robust legal framework that broadens and deepens the areas of cooperation between Member States, and enhances the institutional and foundational basis of IGAD;
Resolved for the IGAD Council of Ministers to appoint two (2) Deputy Executive Secretaries in compliance with the provisions of the adopted IGAD Treaty and agreements reached from consultations between the IGAD Heads of State and Government during the 14th Ordinary Session of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government;
Authorized the Executive Secretary to immediately embark on the implementation of the revised Staff Regulations and Rules as part of the ongoing institutional reform with a view to enhance the efficiency and efficacy of human resources management and administration;
Urged Member States to honour the unpaid assessed contributions for the Financial Year 2023 as well as offset and regularize the arrears owing from preceding years and Further Appealed to Member States to allocate an equal contribution of USD 2 million each towards the construction of the new IGAD Headquarters complex;
Recognizing the transformative potential of critical initiatives established under the IGAD reform and revitalization program including; the IGAD E-Visa, the IGAD Leadership Academy, the IGAD Council of Eminent Personalities as well as the IGAD Awards and Scholarship programs, Decided to closely follow-up the progress and fully support the operationalization of these institutions;
Appreciated the African Union as the mother organisation of IGAD, the United Nations for its important role in international peace, security and development cooperation as well as IGAD partners including the European Union, the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the Global Fund, Members of the IGAD Partners Forum Co-Chaired by the Republic of Italy, the League of Arab States, Middle East and Gulf Cooperation Countries, the Troika Countries (Norway, United Kingdom, and United States), Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Türkiye, and the numerous other nations and organisations that have shown friendship and support for the IGAD regional aspiration for peace prosperity and regional integration;
and;
Decided to remain actively seized of these matters.
Done on 12th June 2023
Download the Attached Communique in PDF below
FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE 14TH IGAD ORDINARY ASSEMBLY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT 12.06.2023
