Somalia welcomes structural reforms at IGAD amid fear of more divisions

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Federal Government of Somalia said it welcomes the new structural reforms at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development [IGAD], an eight-country trade bloc in East Africa, Garowe Onlne reports.

In a statement, President Farmajo said on Friday his country has maintained its advocacy for reforms and restructuring on the composition of IGAD to represent the views and interests of the member states.

The decision was agreed at the end of the 13th Ordinary Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia by the top leaders. It comes amid fear of more divisions among the countries.

The standoff emerged last month after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the current chairman, appointed his former Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu as the executive secretary.

Somalia enthusiastically wants IGAD to remain as a platform that captures the interests of the region and all its stakeholders, especially, in key areas of the economy and the politics of its member states.

On the other hand, President Farmajo sent a cable of congratulations to the new Chairman of IGAD, Abdallah Hamdook, the PM of Sudan who took over the chairmanship of the strategic institution.

Sudan takes over from Ethiopia which has chaired IGAD since 2010 when Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki handed the mantle to late PM Meles Zenawi, who died in 2012.

Furthermore, Farmajo also offered his congratulatory message to Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu the new Executive Secretary of IGAD, assuring the new leadership of full cooperation and support from FGS.

The latest changes come as IGAD’s eight members are Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, South Sudan, and Sudan have been battling internal wrangles over the leadership of the bloc.

GAROWE ONLINE