Regional leaders praise IGAD summit in Mogadishu

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

advertisements

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) foreign ministers met Saturday (January 10th) in Mogadishu, the first time the regional bloc has met in the capital city for almost three decades.

Discussions focused on peace-building efforts in Somalia, where the government is fighting al-Shabaab and attempting nationwide reconstruction after two decades of civil war.

Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda each sent representatives to the Mogadishu meeting, convened in a heavily secured hotel near the main government district in the capital.

"We are very happy that Mogadishu is secure enough to host such an international conference," Somalia's Foreign Minister Abdirahman Duale Beyle said according to AFP.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud described the meeting as "an important regional event".

State Minister for Uganda's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Asuman Kiyingi told Sabahi he was proud to see Somalia hosting the IGAD summit.

"It is my first time coming here," he said. "It is IGAD members' responsibility to collectively help Somalia to rebuild its destroyed institutions."

"We will redouble our support for Somalia and its people," Djiboutian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Ali Yusuf told Sabahi. "It is something to be proud of for us to hold this historic summit in Mogadishu."

AU Special Representative to Somalia Maman Sambo Sidikou sent a statement praising recent territorial gains against al-Shabaab in Somalia and urging further support from IGAD member countries.

"Your Excellencies, you are all well aware of the successful completion of the [African Union Mission in Somalia] and [Somali National Army] joint military operations against al-Shabaab and the recovery of more than 80% of the territory that al-Shabaab once controlled," he said.

"That is good news, but it will be even more meaningful if we further support the government of Somalia as well as the regional states and administrations to provide the much needed social services to the population in these areas," he said.

Home
Email

Hiiraan Online