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DJIBOUTI — The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has welcomed the Somali Federal Parliament’s ratification of the organization’s new treaty, describing it as a fundamental pillar for enhancing regional cooperation in the Horn of Africa.
The regional bloc stated that the Somali Parliament’s approval marks a significant milestone in Mogadishu’s engagement with regional mechanisms focused on peace and development, supporting efforts to consolidate political stability across the region.
With this ratification, Somalia joins Djibouti, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Kenya in endorsing the 2023 IGAD framework, which modernizes the organization’s 1996 founding charter to align with current challenges and opportunities.
The Secretariat noted that the updated treaty will strengthen legal and institutional support for vital sectors, including peace and security, climate resilience, economic infrastructure development, and intra-regional trade.
H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary of IGAD, extended his warm congratulations to the leadership, government, and parliament of the Federal Republic of Somalia, commending their decisive role in advancing this regional milestone.
The Executive Secretary highlighted that Somalia’s move enabled the organization to reach the required two-thirds majority threshold, paving the way for the full and formal implementation of the new treaty’s provisions.
Dr. Gebeyehu emphasized that this achievement, coinciding with the organization’s 40th anniversary, will bolster IGAD’s capacity to coordinate collective action in economic integration and sustainable growth across the Horn of Africa.
The organization stressed that Somalia’s inclusion in this legal framework reaffirms a commitment to the principles of mutual respect and strategic partnership, contributing to a more resilient region capable of addressing cross-border crises.
IGAD concluded its statement by reaffirming its continued close collaboration with all member states to operationalize the new charter, ensuring the fulfillment of regional peoples’ aspirations for lasting peace, security, and economic prosperity.
Somalia’s ratification serves as the “driving force” that moved the new IGAD charter from the planning stage to actual implementation, as it completed the required two-thirds legal threshold. The organization’s welcome of this step reflects its urgent need for a unified legal framework to intervene more effectively in food security and border dispute issues. For Somalia, this regional endorsement strengthens its negotiating power and confirms its return as a strategic partner in the African collective action system, opening the door to international funding for major regional projects supervised by the organization.
