Mogadishu Hosts High-Level IGAD Talks on Regional Security and Conflict Prevention

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia has hosted a high-level regional meeting of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) for the first time, bringing together senior officials and conflict prevention experts to strengthen early warning systems and address security threats across the Horn of Africa.

The two-day meeting of IGAD’s Committee of Permanent Secretaries and the Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism (CEWARN) brought together representatives from member states, the regional body’s secretariat and specialists working on conflict prevention.

The discussions focused on improving regional mechanisms for identifying potential conflicts before they escalate into violence, as well as strengthening information sharing and coordination among governments in responding to emerging security threats.

Somalia’s Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hamza Adan Haadow, officially closed the meeting, calling for stronger cooperation among IGAD member states to promote lasting peace and stability in the region.

The gathering also provided an opportunity to review regional early warning arrangements and reinforce joint efforts to address security challenges that often extend across national borders.

CEWARN, established in 2002, monitors potential sources of violent conflict, analyses emerging threats and shares early warning information with governments to support preventive action. Its work covers security, governance, economic, social and environmental factors that can contribute to instability.

The meeting comes as countries in the Horn of Africa continue to grapple with interconnected security challenges, including cross-border conflicts, political tensions, competition over natural resources and insecurity in border communities.

Hosting the regional gathering in Mogadishu marks a step in Somalia’s engagement with IGAD’s peace and security agenda, providing the country with an opportunity to contribute to regional discussions on conflict prevention and cooperation.