The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, IGAD, member countries’ chiefs of state and government will meet on Tuesday in Nairobi for the 39th extraordinary meeting to discuss “matters of mutual concern in the area.”
Following a border incident between the Sudanese and Ethiopian forces, tensions between the two IGAD members, Sudan and Ethiopia, have been rising in the background of the summit.
Workneh Gebeyehu, the executive secretary of the IGAD, traveled to Sudan over the weekend and met with Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of the junta’s Sovereignty Council.
The two sisterly countries were urged to “actively seek diplomatic ways to establish a lasting and sustainable settlement” by Dr. Workneh previously.
The regional trade bloc’s current chair, Sudan, claims the summit “comes at a key and important time.”
The Tuesday summit is “most importantly a ‘family meeting,’ and all heads of nations and governments are confirmed to attend,” Dr. Workneh told journalists during his visit to Sudan.
“I am very confident that our leaders will discuss the issues that concern the region, the challenge of peace and security, and the drought situation resulting from climate change,” he said while in Khartoum last weekend.