IGAD Delegation Arrives in Mogadishu for High-Level Talks Amid Regional Tensions

Mogadishu(Mogadishu24)-A high-level delegation from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) arrived in the Somali capital on Monday, led by IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu. The delegation was welcomed by Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, with discussions set to focus on enhancing cooperation in regional security, addressing climate change, and establishing Somalia’s first Blue Economy Centre of Excellence.

The IGAD Secretariat confirmed the visit on social media, stating that the trip reaffirms the organization's commitment to advancing peace, stability, and prosperity in the Horn of Africa. While official discussions will address broader regional cooperation, diplomatic sources indicate the visit also aims to mediate tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia. The two nations have experienced strained relations following a controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ethiopia and the self-declared Republic of Somaliland earlier this year, which granted Ethiopia access to a 20-kilometer stretch of coastline. Somalia rejected the deal, calling it illegal and void.

Mediation efforts, including talks brokered by Turkey in Ankara, have so far failed to resolve the dispute. While a third round of talks was scheduled for September 17th, delays have pushed it back, with sources suggesting the next round may occur after the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The IGAD delegation is expected to prioritize finding a solution to the Somalia-Ethiopia conflict before turning attention to the ongoing crisis in Sudan, where Somalia’s involvement in peace processes has faced resistance from Sudanese parties preferring mediation from other countries.