Addis Ababa, 22 July 2014 (WIC) – The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Tedros Adhanom, on Friday (July 18) held discussions with IGAD’s Executive Secretary, Ambassador Mahboub Maalim and IGAD’s Special Envoy to Somalia, Ambassador Mohammed Affey.
Ambassador Mahboub raised the issue of regularizing the IGAD Partners Forum (IPF), a group of 26 countries and organizations interested in supporting the initiatives of IGAD.
The Executive Secretary expressed his belief that the Forum could facilitate talks in dealing with the region’s issues with the help of the international community.
Ambassador Affey, who commended Ethiopia’s role in the Jubaland reconciliation process, briefed Dr. Tedros on the current situation of Somalia, and on the preparations for the forthcoming reconciliation processes in Kismayo and Baidoa.
He called up on Ethiopia to continue to support these reconciliation processes.
Ambassador Affey pointed out the frequent Al-Shabaab attacks in Mogadishu and the activities of what he called ‘spoilers’ were threats to the ongoing peace building process and deserved the attention the IGAD Council.
Referring to the reconciliation processes, Dr. Tedros said that for a successful federal arrangement in Somalia Jubaland should be strengthened and other states follow in its footsteps.
He told Ambassador Maalim that the UK and the UN had shown interest to participate in the IGAD Partners Forum and they wanted it to extend to summit level.
According to MoFA, Dr. Tedros assured the delegation that Ethiopia would continue to make every effort to coordinate the activities of AMISOM and Ethiopian forces in the fight against Al-Shabaab.