November 30, 2022 (KHARTOUM, Sudan) The 48th Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Council of Ministers session concluded successfully in Khartoum, in the Republic of Sudan on Wednesday 30 November 20222 under the chairmanship of His Excellency Ali Al-Sadiq, the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sudan.
The meeting was attended by H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Djibouti; H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; H.E. Dr. Alfred Mutua, Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Kenya; H.E. Abshir Omar Huruse, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Federal Republic of Somalia; H.E. Mayiik Ayii Deng, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of South Sudan; and H.E. Dr. Rashid Yahaya Ssemddu, Ambassador of the Republic of Uganda to the Republic of Sudan.
Also in attendance were H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary of IGAD; H.E. Amb. Dr. Ismail Wais, the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan; H.E. Amb. Mohamed Ali Guyo, IGAD Special Envoy for the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Somalia; H.E. Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai, Interim Chairperson of RJMEC; and H.E. Gen. Asrat Denero Amat, Chairperson of CTSAMVM. Also present were H.E. Annette Weber, the European Union Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa; H.E. Michelle Tomassi, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy to the Republic of Sudan and co-chair of the IGAD Partners Forum; and H.E. Ambassador John T. Godfrey, U.S Ambassador to the Republic of Sudan.
The Executive Secretary of IGAD H.E. Dr Workneh Gebeyehu briefed the Council on the prevailing peace and security situation, and the regional disaster, displacement and humanitarian situation. He also gave highlights of the IGAD performance of projects and programmes, institutional reforms, and update of finance and administration.
The Council welcomed the Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed between the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Tigray People’s Liberation Front in Pretoria, South Africa, on 2nd November 2022 and the subsequent Declaration of Senior Commanders on Modalities for the Implementation of the Agreement signed in Nairobi, Kenya, on 12th November 2022; Appreciated the instrumental role played by IGAD and in particular, the pivotal role played by H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary of IGAD in close collaboration with the African Union, United Nations and the United States of America, and committed to continue working together in order to mobilise and avail support for the full implementation of the Agreement
The Ministers were appraised of the political and security situation in Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. They welcomed the efforts of the Government of Somalia against terrorism and expressed solidarity with the government and the people of Somalia. They also encouraged the parties in Sudan to find a sustainable political solution to the current situation.
On the humanitarian and disaster situation, the Council commended the exemplary work done by IGAD Secretariat in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic that has reached more than 1.9 million people. 8.6 million sets of personal protective equipment, 36 medical support vehicles and 14 PCR mass-testing machines have been delivered to Member States including in high-risk cross border areas, 14 refugee camps and IDP settlements and 11 migrant reception centres. The Council lauded the leadership, health officials and workers in Uganda for the sacrifices and effort in trying to contain the Ebola situation, and committed to closely liaise and work with Ugandan authorities in arresting the spread of the virus and also provide support when needed;
On the progress of programmes and projects, the ministers appreciated the detailed report of the Executive Secretary on the work of the IGAD Secretariat and lauded the leadership and staff for the satisfactory progress made in the implementation of projects and programmes and undertaking the much-needed institutional reform, and expressed its full support to the Secretariat in completing the ongoing institutional reforms and implementing the revised Resource Mobilisation Strategy.
The Ministers recognised that climate change, conflict and disaster-induced displacement continue to exacerbate the scale of disasters that the region experiences, and decided, as agreed in the recently concluded COP27 meeting, to establish a Regional Climate Security Coordination Mechanism that will build the capacity of IGAD Member States to anticipate, prevent and mitigate the outset of climate-induced conflict and displacement. The Ministers called upon the International Community and stakeholders to continue providing support to the IGAD support platform for IDPs, Refugees and host communities in Sudan and South Sudan.
Member States agreed the need or timely contribution of their annual financial commitments to the organisation in the spirit of ownership of programmes and projects.
The partners present (EU, US, IGAD Partners Forum) all lauded the central role of IGAD in preventive diplomacy, mediation, regional integration and disaster management and committed to continue to work with Secretariat and Member States of IGAD to complement their efforts in addressing national and regional challenges.
Download attached Communiqué of the 48th Ordinary Session of the IGAD Council of Ministers in PDF below
