# Somalia and IGAD > Somalia in IGAD: founding member since 1986, the IGAD mission in Mogadishu, the people who lead it, recent statements on Somali politics, and Somaliland. Source page: https://calankii.com/en/relations/igad/ Last checked: 2026-11-13 Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com) ## How do Somalia and IGAD relate today? Somalia is one of IGAD's eight member states, with Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, South [Sudan](/en/diaspora/sudan/), Sudan and Uganda ([IGAD, about](https://igad.int/about/)). IGAD's headquarters are in Djibouti, and its Executive Secretary is Dr Workneh Gebeyehu of Ethiopia, in office since November 2019 (same source). IGAD has a mission office in Somalia, which works with the federal government and international partners on IGAD programmes ([IGAD, 16 September 2024](https://igad.int/igad-executive-secretary-h-e-dr-workneh-gebeyehu-official-visit-to-the-federal-republic-of-somalia/)). In 2026 its work in Somalia included women's peacebuilding, border management and Ebola preparedness (see below). ## When did Somalia join IGAD? Somalia was a founding member. Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda set up the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD) in 1986 to deal with droughts and other disasters ([IGAD, about](https://igad.int/about/)). In April 1995 the heads of state, meeting in Addis Ababa, decided to revitalise the body. The new IGAD was launched at the fifth summit in Djibouti on 25 and 26 November 1996 ([IGAD, about](https://igad.int/about/)). Eritrea joined after 1993 and South Sudan in 2011 (same source). IGAD's own history notes the "Ethiopia-Somalia war of 1977" as an example of border conflict in the region, and lists the Somalia peace process among the regional problems it has worked on ([IGAD, history](https://igad.int/about/?tab=the-history)). ## Who leads IGAD's work on Somalia? - **Dr Workneh Gebeyehu:** IGAD Executive Secretary since November 2019, succeeding Ambassador Mahboub Maalim ([IGAD, about](https://igad.int/about/)). On 16 September 2024 he visited Mogadishu and met President [Hassan Sheikh Mohamud](/en/people/hassan-sheikh-mohamud/) and Foreign Minister Ahmed Fiqi ([IGAD, 16 September 2024](https://igad.int/igad-executive-secretary-h-e-dr-workneh-gebeyehu-official-visit-to-the-federal-republic-of-somalia/)). - **Dr Mohamud Kaarshe:** head of the IGAD Mission to Somalia ([IGAD, 16 September 2024](https://igad.int/igad-executive-secretary-h-e-dr-workneh-gebeyehu-official-visit-to-the-federal-republic-of-somalia/); [IGAD, 10 October 2026](https://igad.int/igad-ilo-and-iom-train-somali-border-police-and-immigration-officers-in-integrated-border-management/)). An IGAD release of 7 October 2026 names the head of mission as Mohamud Abdi Ahmed ([IGAD, 7 October 2026](https://igad.int/igad-equips-women-leaders-in-galmudug-with-practical-skills-to-advance-sustainable-peace/)). - **Abdoulkader Houssein Omar:** Djibouti's foreign minister, speaking as chair of IGAD at the AU Peace and Security Council on Somalia on 6 January 2026 ([AU PSC, communiqué 1324](https://au-ssom.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/DOC-20260107-WA0004.pdf)). ## What has IGAD agreed with Somalia? During the 16 September 2024 visit, IGAD and the Somali government signed an agreement to strengthen relations. It included a Regional Centre of Excellence in Blue Economy ([IGAD, 16 September 2024](https://igad.int/igad-executive-secretary-h-e-dr-workneh-gebeyehu-official-visit-to-the-federal-republic-of-somalia/)). The talks also covered countering violent extremism, displacement caused by climate and inclusive governance (same source). ## What does IGAD do in Somalia? - **Women and peace:** IGAD trained women leaders and peace committee members in Mogadishu in 2026. Its project on women's economic resilience for peace is paid for by the African Development Bank and runs in [Somalia and South Sudan](/en/relations/south-sudan/) ([IGAD, 7 October 2026](https://igad.int/igad-equips-women-leaders-in-galmudug-with-practical-skills-to-advance-sustainable-peace/); [IGAD, 1 October 2026](https://igad.int/igad-trains-women-leaders-and-peace-committee-members-to-strengthen-womens-role-in-peacebuilding-in-somalia/)). - **Borders and free movement:** from 4 to 8 October 2026 IGAD, the ILO and IOM trained 40 immigration and border police officers from the federal and regional governments, under an EU-funded free-movement project ([IGAD, 10 October 2026](https://igad.int/igad-ilo-and-iom-train-somali-border-police-and-immigration-officers-in-integrated-border-management/)). - **Health:** from 28 September to 1 October 2026 IGAD and Somali experts drew up a costed Ebola preparedness plan in Mogadishu, funded by the Pandemic Fund ([IGAD, 1 October 2026](https://igad.int/igad-and-somalia-finalize-costed-ebola-response-workplan-in-mogadishu/)). - **Drought:** IGAD's drought resilience initiative was set up after the 2010 to 2011 drought, which hit Somalia hard ([IGAD, history](https://igad.int/about/?tab=the-history)). For other bodies working inside Somalia, see [International bodies in Somalia](/en/institutions/international-bodies-in-somalia/). ## What has IGAD said about Somali politics? - **26 December 2025:** IGAD noted the "orderly conduct" of Mogadishu's municipal elections on 25 December 2025, calling them "an initial step toward the direct election of representatives by the Somali people" ([IGAD, 26 December 2025](https://igad.int/igad-notes-the-conduct-of-municipal-elections-in-mogadishu-as-a-step-toward-democratic-governance/)). - **16 May 2026:** after talks between the federal government and opposition in Mogadishu from 13 to 15 May 2026, IGAD encouraged "continued dialogue to address outstanding issues" ([IGAD, 16 May 2026](https://igad.int/igad-secretariat-calls-for-continued-dialogue-in-somalia/)). - **4 June 2026:** after reports of violence in Mogadishu, Workneh Gebeyehu urged all sides to "place the interests of the Somali people first" ([IGAD, 4 June 2026](https://igad.int/igad-calls-for-immediate-de-escalation-to-protect-somalias-stability-and-future/)). - **June 2024:** IGAD congratulated Somalia on its election to the UN Security Council ([Eastleigh Voice, June 2024](https://new.eastleighvoice.co.ke/somalia/48090/igad-congratulates-somalia-on-un-security-council-election)). ## How does IGAD deal with Somaliland and the member states? - **Israel's recognition:** on 27 December 2025 the IGAD Secretariat said Somalia "remains a sovereign IGAD Member State" and that unilateral recognition runs against the UN Charter, the AU Constitutive Act and the IGAD Agreement ([IGAD, 27 December 2025](https://igad.int/igad-secretariat-reiterates-its-firm-commitment-to-the-federal-republic-of-somalias-unity-sovereignty-and-territorial-integrity/)). - **[Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/) office in Jerusalem:** on 18 June 2026, after reports that Somaliland was opening an embassy in Jerusalem, IGAD said Somalia's "unity and territorial integrity must be fully respected" ([IGAD, 18 June 2026](https://igad.int/igad-calls-for-restraint-and-respect-for-somalias-sovereignty-amid-emerging-developments/)). - **Member states:** IGAD trained women peace actors from [Galmudug](/en/states/galmudug/) in October 2026 ([IGAD, 7 October 2026](https://igad.int/igad-equips-women-leaders-in-galmudug-with-practical-skills-to-advance-sustainable-peace/)). The AU asked its Commission to work with IGAD and the EAC on dialogue between the federal government and the member states ([AU PSC, communiqué 1324](https://au-ssom.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/DOC-20260107-WA0004.pdf)). ## Related pages - [Somalia and the African Union](/en/relations/african-union/) - [Somalia and the EAC](/en/relations/eac/) - [Transitional governments, 2000 to 2012](/en/history/transitional-governments-2000-2012/) - [International bodies in Somalia](/en/institutions/international-bodies-in-somalia/) --- I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. Fix this page: email hello@calankii.com with the page link and your source.