Official Remarks Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, IGAD Executive Secretary on the 39th Extraordinary Assembly of IGAD Heads of State and Government Tuesday, 5th July 2022, Republic of Kenya

I am overwhelmed to receive Your Excellencies as the leadership of our region together once again after 18 months since our last summit meeting. I thank Your Excellencies for your unwavering dedication to the cause of our regional organisation.

Although we have experienced different challenges in convening due to emerging priorities within our member states and the impact of evolving situations from other parts of the world, I am encouraged that nevertheless, we have continued to talk to each other as one family that is inseparably connected and we have continued acting in the best interests of our people.

Now we come together to address the challenges that are bigger than each of us individually, as well as grasp the opportunities that are of mutual benefit to us all.

This summit meeting is an unmistakable sign of our solidarity and immensely improves the standing of our organisation. It also sends a clear message to the region and international community that leadership is seized of the pressing matters in the region.

Let me at this juncture, thank our chair H.E. Gen. Burhan Al-Fattah and our host, H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta who have been instrumental in bringing us together and for hosting this meeting at this very important time.

I also take this opportunity to congratulate H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on his election as the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia for the democratic and peaceful transfer of power. It is further evidence of the positive transformation of our region.

We are confident that this gathering of your excellencies is an opportunity for the region to benefit immensely from your insight and wisdom as we sit to discuss matters of common concern to our people.

In the course of this meeting, the secretariat through my office will be tabling 2 reports for your consideration, the first report will focus on the Peace and Security Situation in the region, with particular emphasis on the drivers of instability including; conflict, terrorism and violent extremism, proliferation of illicit arms and illegal weapons, as well as illegal migration and human trafficking and others.

The second report highlights the natural disasters that are in our region and that are in their own way, further contributing to regional fragility and instability.

At the forefront of our thoughts is the very dire drought situation and the famine conditions it has triggered.

This drought severely threatens the lives of our brothers and sisters across the region, threatening livelihoods and livestock as well as destroying the natural heritage we share through wildlife and vegetation.

We shall also review the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our states and societies, especially the struggle for our economies to recover amidst a resurgence of this global health crisis.

The bold steps that you have all taken to always bring us together have won the confidence of the international community and mobilised extraordinary levels of political and material support from our international partners, many of whom are here with us today.

I therefore take this opportunity to thank all our partners who have stood with IGAD through these difficult times and we say a warm and sincere “Thank You” for your support.

I am confident that the closed session that will be held immediately hereafter, will be a forum in which we shall continue the tradition of originating amicable and effective solutions to the challenges affecting our region.