Member nations of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have applauded the Federal Government of Somalia’s efforts in combating Al-Shabaab extremists.
During the IGAD summit in Djibouti, the leaders backed Somalia’s efforts to ease the existing arms embargo, which they claimed had impeded the Somali Forces’ capacity to deal effectively with the Al-shabaab threat.
The leaders also agreed to restructure the IGAD bloc’s administrative structure to provide for equal chairing by one of the member nations on a yearly rotating basis.
They also proposed that the Deputy Secretary General of IGAD be a Somali selected by the Federal Government of Somalia, while Mr. Workneh Gebeyehu, the present Secretary of IGAD, be given a four-year extension.
The IGAD leaders urged the international community to provide financial and political assistance to the Federal Government of Somalia in carrying out the decisions of the Somali National Consultative Council.
They also urged the parties involved in the crisis in Las’anod to halt the fighting and address their issues via negotiation as soon as feasible.