8 April 2019, Nairobi, Kenya: The Mediation Support Unit (MSU) of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) kick started a two-day meeting this morning in Nairobi, Kenya where IGAD Member States are reviewing a draft protocol on Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution (CPMR) for the IGAD region.
The MSU has convened legal experts from Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs in the IGAD Member States with the aim of informing and shaping the CPMR draft protocol which will serve a standardized guide and mechanism for member states to jointly, effectively, efficiently and transparently design interventions; deploy envoys or mediators; and largely engage in conflict prevention, management and resolution in the region as guided by relevant International regional instruments among other principles.
During the opening session, Hon Siraj Fegessa, Director of the IGAD Peace and Security Division highlighted IGAD’s vision to build and strengthen the member states’ capacity in preventive diplomacy and mediation as well as guide them on prevention and response to conflicts in an efficient and timely manner for regional peace, stability and development.
Speaking on behalf of the Kenya government, Mr. Agabio Mutembei Mutegi, Counsellor IGAD Focal Point at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs commended IGAD for its effort in boosting Member States’ capacity in mediation and taking a lead role in conflict resolution, prevention through early warning and mediation in the region.
Through this meeting of experts, a framework will be generated upon agreement by all member states for ownership as well as share responsibilities of conflict prevention, management and resolution based on early warning capacity and zeal for collective action within the IGAD region.
The two-day engagement of legal experts from will provide knowledge, experience and familiarity with the draft CPMR protocol that will later be discussed in further regional consultations where the final draft will be endorsed and adopted by the IGAD policy organs.
MSU is undertaking these consultations with the financial support of the European Union Trust Fund (EUTF) jointly managed between IGAD and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).
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