IGAD, UN Warn of Rising Regional Strain After Eritrea’s Withdrawal, Urge Renewed Commitment to Dialogue and Algiers Accord

GOOBJOOG NEWS|DJIBOUTI: IGAD and the United Nations have voiced growing concern about stability in the Horn of Africa, using Eritrea’s decision to withdraw from the regional bloc as a warning sign of deepening diplomatic rifts. In separate statements, IGAD urged Asmara to reconsider and return to the organisation’s consultative mechanisms, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on Eritrea and Ethiopia to recommit to the Algiers Agreement and rebuild trust amid signs of strained relations.

Eritrea formally notified IGAD of its withdrawal earlier today, a development that now forms the backdrop to IGAD’s unusually direct appeal. In its statement, the Secretariat said it “regrets” the decision and framed Eritrea’s exit as a setback to regional solidarity. IGAD recalled that Eritrea had only recently rejoined after years of self-suspension, and noted that the country has not participated in IGAD meetings or activities since June 2023. The bloc emphasised that no proposals or engagement on institutional or policy reforms accompanied Eritrea’s formal departure, adding that IGAD remains open for “constructive engagement” and will continue outreach to the government in Asmara.

The UN Secretary-General’s remarks, released to mark 25 years since the Algiers Agreement ended the Eritrea–Ethiopia border war, placed the issue in a broader context of rising mistrust between the two neighbours. Guterres urged both countries to recommit to the agreement’s principles, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to invest in “good-neighbourly relations” to avoid further destabilisation in the region. His statement also stressed the need for deeper development cooperation and continued engagement with regional and international partners.

Diplomats say the timing of the two statements is notable. Although neither directly links Eritrea’s IGAD exit to current tensions with Ethiopia, both highlight concerns about shrinking diplomatic space at a moment when the Horn of Africa faces political, security and economic pressures. Analysts point to recent friction over Ethiopia’s maritime ambitions, periodic military posturing along the border, and the erosion of earlier trust built during the 2018 rapprochement.

IGAD’s appeal for Eritrea to return to the table underscores fears that unresolved disputes may become harder to manage without regular, structured dialogue. The bloc said it remains committed to its mandate of fostering cooperation and collective action for the benefit of the region’s people and called on Eritrea to rejoin in “good faith.”

For the UN, the message is similar: regional stability depends on sustained engagement, respect for existing agreements and a willingness by both Eritrea and Ethiopia to defuse tensions before they harden.