November 3-5, 2025 (BISHOFTU, Ethiopia): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in partnership with the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) of Sweden, convened a Special Envoys’ Retreat under the theme “Exchange, Collaboration, and Strategies for Effective Peace Processes.”
The retreat, which brought together IGAD Special Envoys, senior officials from the Peace and Security Division, and experts from IGAD specialised units, served as a platform to assess ongoing mediation efforts, refine collaborative methods, and deepen strategic coherence in peace facilitation across the Horn of Africa.
In his opening remarks, Commander Abebe Muluneh, Director of the IGAD Peace and Security Division, thanked the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) for its partnership in convening the retreat and emphasised the importance of reflection and joint learning in advancing IGAD’s regional peace architecture.
Over the three days, participants explored key dimensions of peace mediation — from good offices and facilitation techniques to dialogue frameworks and inter-agency coordination. Subsequent sessions delved into the core dynamics of mediation practice within the IGAD context, addressing issues of stakeholder engagement, inclusivity, and strategic partnerships.
Participants also exchanged experiences from various peace processes and identified opportunities to enhance coordination, trust-building, and collective action in support of regional stability. The retreat concluded with reflections on lessons learned and a shared vision for a more connected, responsive, and strategic IGAD peace mediation capacity.
