International and regional bodies
Somalia and IGAD
Somalia is a founding member of IGAD, the Horn of Africa bloc set up as IGADD in 1986 and relaunched in 1996. IGAD keeps a mission office in Mogadishu and runs peacebuilding, border and health projects there. In December 2025 and June 2026 it restated its support for Somalia's unity after Israel's recognition of Somaliland.
How do Somalia and IGAD relate today?
Somalia is one of IGAD's eight member states, with Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda (IGAD, 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). 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).
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). 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).
Who leads IGAD's work on Somalia?
- Dr Workneh Gebeyehu: IGAD Executive Secretary since November 2019, succeeding Ambassador Mahboub Maalim (IGAD, about). On 16 September 2024 he visited Mogadishu and met President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Foreign Minister Ahmed Fiqi (IGAD, 16 September 2024).
- Dr Mohamud Kaarshe: head of the IGAD Mission to Somalia (IGAD, 16 September 2024; IGAD, 10 October 2026). An IGAD release of 7 October 2026 names the head of mission as Mohamud Abdi Ahmed (IGAD, 7 October 2026).
- 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).
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). 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 (IGAD, 7 October 2026; IGAD, 1 October 2026).
- 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).
- 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).
- Drought: IGAD's drought resilience initiative was set up after the 2010 to 2011 drought, which hit Somalia hard (IGAD, history).
For other bodies working inside Somalia, see 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).
- 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).
- 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).
- June 2024: IGAD congratulated Somalia on its election to the UN Security Council (Eastleigh Voice, June 2024).
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).
- Somaliland 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).
- Member states: IGAD trained women peace actors from Galmudug in October 2026 (IGAD, 7 October 2026). 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).
Related pages
Sources
- IGAD, about · igad.int
- IGAD, 16 September 2024 · igad.int
- IGAD, history · igad.int
- IGAD, 10 October 2026 · igad.int
- IGAD, 7 October 2026 · igad.int
- AU PSC, communiqué 1324 · au-ssom.org
- IGAD, 1 October 2026 · igad.int
- IGAD, 1 October 2026 · igad.int
- IGAD, 26 December 2025 · igad.int
- IGAD, 16 May 2026 · igad.int
- IGAD, 4 June 2026 · igad.int
- Eastleigh Voice, June 2024 · new.eastleighvoice.co.ke
- IGAD, 27 December 2025 · igad.int
- IGAD, 18 June 2026 · igad.int
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Where this matters
Same era
- Australia18,401 people of Somali ancestry and 8,101 born in Somalia lived in Australia at the 2021 Census, more than half in Victoria. History, work, issues.
- Birmingham (Somali diaspora)About 17,000 to 21,600 Somalis live in Birmingham (Census 2021), mostly in Nechells, Newtown, Small Heath and Alum Rock. History, work, health and ties home.
- Bristol (Somali diaspora)9,167 people in Bristol identified as Somali or Somalilander in Census 2021, the city's largest minority group. Where they live, work, housing, leaders and ties home.
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada2,845 people of Somali origin lived in Calgary at the 2021 Census, plus 890 in Brooks. How they came, who serves them and what they face.
- Denmark (Somali diaspora)21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark in 2026, half born there. Numbers, history, work, permit reviews, and ties home.
- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
Keep reading
- Somalia and the United NationsSomalia at the UN since 1960: membership, Security Council seats, UNOSOM, UNPOS, UNSOM and UNTMIS, envoys, key resolutions, and the Somaliland question.
- Somalia and the African UnionSomalia and the AU since 1963: membership, the AMISOM, ATMIS and AUSSOM missions, envoys, key Peace and Security Council decisions, funding gaps and Somaliland.
- Somalia and the Arab LeagueSomalia in the Arab League since 1974: why it joined, Arab aid and loans, debt talks with Arab funds, and the League's stance on Somaliland in 2025.
- Somalia and the OICSomalia in the OIC since 1969: the Rabat summit, the 2011 famine office, the contact group, Islamic Development Bank loans and the Somaliland resolutions.
- Somalia and the EACSomalia in the East African Community: the 2012 application, admission in 2023, full membership on 4 March 2024, the people who led it, and Somaliland.
- Somalia and the European UnionSomalia and the EU: EEC association, Operation Atalanta from 2008, EUTM and EUCAP Somalia, the EU Special Representative, aid and debt relief, and Somaliland.