Full Text: Communiqué of the 13th Ordinary Summit of IGAD Heads of State and Government
47th, Ordinary Council of Ministers and 13th, IGAD assembly Heads of State and Government’s Theme (Photo: Supplied)
Nov 30th, 2019 (SSNN)-The 13th Ordinary Summit of the IGAD Heads of State and Government was held on 29 November 2019 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the chairmanship of H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The meeting was attended by H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda; H.E. Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti; H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan; H.E. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia; H.E. Dr. Abdalla Hamdok, Prime Minister of the Republic of the Sudan; and H.E. Dr. Monica Juma, Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya. Also in attendance were H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu Negewo, incoming Executive Secretary of IGAD; H.E. Mahboub Maalim, the outgoing Executive Secretary of IGAD; H.E. Amb. Mohamed Ali Guyo, IGAD Special Envoy for the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Somalia; and H.E. Amb. Dr. Ismail Wais, IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan.
Representatives of the African Union Commission, China, European Union, IGAD Partners Forum, the Troika (Norway, UK and USA) and the United Nations also attended the opening session and made statements.
The Ordinary Summit was preceded by the 47th Ordinary Session of the IGAD Council of Ministers held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 28th November 2019.
After extensive deliberations on: the Report of the 47th IGAD Council of Ministers to the Summit; the draft IGAD Establishment
Treaty and proposed Structure; and election of IGAD Chairpersonship, the Summit:
1. Expressed gratitude to the Government and people of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to members of delegations;
2. Recognized and greatly appreciated the exceptional service and contribution that the outgoing Executive Secretary of IGAD, H.E. Amb. Mahboub Maalim, made to the growth and development of IGAD, and wished him well in his future endeavors;
3. Congratulated H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu Negewo on his appointment as the Executive Secretary of IGAD, and
expressed its full support in discharging his responsibilities;
4. Elected Sudan as the Chair of IGAD, and expressed its confidence that under the leadership of Sudan, IGAD will reach new heights in realizing regional integration and political cooperation;
5. Greatly appreciated and thanked the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for the pivotal role it has played in steering and spearheading the work of IGAD as the Chair for over a decade;
6. Adopted the proposed IGAD Structure as amended by the Council, and directed the Executive Secretary to review and update the Structure based on the feedback received from Member States and the needs and realities on the ground subject to the approval of the IGAD Council;
7. Decided to reform IGAD to ensure it becomes a rule-based, effective and predictable organization;
8. Deferred the adoption of the draft IGAD Establishment Treaty until after an in-depth discussion on the future of IGAD takes place at the next Ordinary Summit;
9. Adopted the IGAD Declaration of Principles of Cooperation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, which will enhance cohesion and guide the region’s strategic cooperation;
10. Welcomed Somalia’s request to host a Blue Economy Conference in Mogadishu, Federal Republic of Somalia, in collaboration with IGAD early next year;
11. Called upon the international community to lift the crippling economic sanctions imposed on Sudan and South Sudan to enable them rebuild their economies;
12. Appreciates the efforts by the South Sudanese Parties to the R-ARCSS in silencing the guns for over one year and urged the Parties to accomplish the pre-transitional tasks within the extended hundred days and form the R-TGoNU by the end of the extended period;
13. Commended the Government and people of the Sudan for transitioning into civilian rule and for their resilience and determination, and in this regard endorsed the role of the Republic of South Sudan in mediating the peace talks in Juba;
14. Recommitted to continue working together and redouble efforts in the fight against terrorism in the region, and in this regard appreciated the role and contribution of AMISOM in contributing to the peace and stability of Somalia;
15. Recognized and welcomed the support that has been provided by the African Union, United Nations, partners and friends of IGAD to the work of IGAD;
16. Expressed condolences to the families and friends of the recent flood and land slide victims in some parts of the region;
17. Deferred other Agendas to the next Ordinary Summit to be held in Khartoum, Sudan; and
18. Decided to remain seized of the matter.
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