06-06-2017, Djibouti (Djibouti): The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), HE Amb (Eng) Mahboub Maalim, was a work visit to Berlin, Germany, between May 29th and 31st where he did meet with high level officials and Members of Parliament.
It is during this visit that the Executive Secretary took the opportunity to address members of the German Bundestag on May 31st. After briefly highlighting the importance of the geo-strategic location of the IGAD region, Amb Mahboub pointed out to the recent economic performances and democratic gains by IGAD Member States.
The Executive Secretary then spoke about IGAD as a regional development institution and its increasingly important role in the development of the region. He then detailed topical issues that IGAD is currently working on with the support of international community such as Resilience, Peace and Security, Refugees and Internally Displaced People, Migration, Piracy, Radicalization, and Social Development. After Amb Mahboub’s presentation, the Parlamantiarains asked several questions about IGAD’s Migration Programme, peace and security, mediation role of IGAD, resilience agenda, and exports from IGAD region to the European Union.
On May 30th, Amb Mahboub participated in an annual seminar jointly organized by the Federal Academy for Security Policy and the German Development Bank (KfW). This year’s discussion topic was “Neighbouring Continent Africa: Between Flight, Migration and Economic Perspectives Analyse Causes – Seize Development Opportunities – Build Stability”. The Seminar was opened by Mr. Christian Schmidt, MdB-Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture of Germany. Audiences in the seminar were from the public sector and organisations involved in development. Private sector was also represented in the seminar.
On Day One of his visit, Amb Mahboub met with a KfW team led by Dr. Klaus Muller – KfW Director for Eastern Africa, DR Congo and African Union. Also present in the meeting was Dr. Ralf-Matthias Mohs Director of East Africa, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The focus of the discussion was the KfW portfolio with IGAD and the fund for migration allocated by KfW. During the meeting the migration situation of the region was thoroughly discussed. Also, discussed were the possible mechanisms for managing and delivering the migration fund.
The ES also met with Mr. Mathias Lichrtz Head of the Global Affairs, UN and Development Policy Division of the Federal Chancellery. He explained how IGAD Member States cooperate and support each other on development and peace and security.
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