By Eddah Waithaka
IGAD leaders and regional dignitaries gathered in Nairobi today for a high-level forum on peace and security, urging collective action to address conflicts, climate shocks, and governance challenges across the Horn of Africa.
Eminent Council Mobilized for Peace
Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, IGAD Executive Secretary, opened the forum with a powerful appeal to the Council of Eminent Persons, a body of elder statesmen, scholars, and civic leaders established in 2023.
“We face a ‘double danger’, leadership gaps amid escalating crises,” he declared. “From Sudan’s war to Somalia’s insurgency and South Sudan’s political tensions, our region stands at a crossroads. This Council must bridge divides with wisdom, not weapons.”
Dr. Gebeyehu emphasized the Council’s role in preventive diplomacy, urging member states to grant it full diplomatic status. “We must stop wars before they start,” he said, linking the initiative to IGAD’s Vision 2050 for a peaceful, integrated region.
Kenya Champions Gender-Inclusive Mediation
Hanna Cheptumo, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture, and Heritage, spotlighted women and youth as untapped peacebuilders. “They are not just victims but architects of reconciliation,” she asserted, citing Kenya’s post-2010 election recovery, where women-led mediation healed divisions.
Cheptumo proposed a regional framework to mentor young mediators, particularly women, and integrate traditional conflict-resolution practices. “A peace process that excludes half our population is doomed to fail,” she warned, referencing Kenya’s alarming 2024 femicide rates (5,578 deaths) as a call to action.
Urgency Amid Crisis
The forum unfolded against a grim backdrop: Sudan’s war, climate-induced droughts, and persistent terrorism in Somalia. Delegates stressed that IGAD’s 40th anniversary in 2026 must mark a turning point.
“Unity is our baobab tree,” said Dr. Gebeyehu, invoking the symbol of resilience. “Its roots intertwine; so must our solidarity.
Japan, a key partner, pledged continued support, while Kenya vowed to host a continental youth peace conference later this year.
“History watches,” Dr. Gebeyehu concluded. “Will we be indifferent—or ignite hope?”
The forum ended with a standing ovation, but the real test lies ahead: translating rhetoric into action across a fractured region.
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