Hard truths. Bold Insights. Real talk.
The warning came during the opening of the 72nd Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF 72), hosted by the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) in Nairobi on Monday.
The mission includes 84 short-term observers with diverse professional backgrounds, including diplomats accredited to the AU, election management officials, civil society representatives, human rights experts, and specialists in media, gender, and youth engagement.
This development comes after Eritrea rejoined the organisation only last year during the 14th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government in June 2023, where it was welcomed by all member states in a show of regional solidarity and cooperation.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the withdrawal follows years of concern over the direction and conduct of the regional body. The ministry said Eritrea was deeply involved in IGAD’s renewal in 1993 and worked with other countries to strengthen the organisation so it could help secure peace, stability and economic integration in the region.
Speaking at the 3rd Ministerial Stock-take Meeting of the IGAD Support Platform in Nairobi on November 27, 2025, Gebeyehu emphasized the need for sustained political leadership, improved coordination, and broader partnerships to tackle displacement, climate challenges, and other humanitarian pressures.
The alarm was sounded during the 2nd Forum of Special Envoys and Representatives on the Sudan Peace Process, held on November 18, 2025 in Djibouti, followed by a Partners Meeting on Sudan later the same day.
Both IGAD and the UN stress that accountability for human rights violations is essential to breaking Sudan’s cycle of conflict and achieving lasting peace. Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in El Fasher remains critical, with thousands fleeing amid shortages of food, medicine, and shelter.
Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua said that Kenya is committed to advancing human mobility policies that support both development and stability under IGAD’s regional framework.
The proposal seeks to create a harmonized, digital platform that will allow non-IGAD citizens, such as tourists, business visitors, and investors, to move more freely within the bloc.
AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf expressed profound sorrow over Raila’s passing, hailing him as one of Africa’s most distinguished and transformative leaders.
Sudan and South Sudan are the hardest hit. Sudan has the highest number of people affected at 24.6 million, with famine and famine risks confirmed in several regions.
The report, covering 2010 to 2022, reveals that the number of international migrants in the region has surged by nearly 66 per cent, rising from 4.1 million in 2013 to 6.8 million in 2022.