Djibouti, January 22, 2026 – The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on Thursday welcomed the Somali parliament’s approval of the updated IGAD agreement, describing it as a key step in Somalia’s commitment to regional cooperation for peace, development, and stability in the Horn of Africa.
Somalia joins other IGAD members, including Djibouti, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Kenya, in endorsing the 2023 IGAD framework, which modernizes the organization’s 1996 founding charter to strengthen legal and institutional support for peace and security, climate resilience, economic infrastructure, health, trade, and social development.
IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu congratulated the Somali government and parliament, noting that Somalia’s ratification helped the organization reach the two-thirds majority required to formally implement the agreement.
He emphasized that the milestone bolsters legal foundations for regional integration and wider collaboration in trade, security, and sustainable development.
IGAD reaffirmed its commitment to close cooperation with all member states to implement the new framework and advance shared priorities for a peaceful and resilient Horn of Africa.
