IGAD endorses protocol to prevent, manage security perils in East African nations

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development, which is an eight-country trade bloc in Africa, has revealed that the endorsement of a regional protocol will effectively prevent and manage security perils in the region.

"The Protocol to the agreement establishing Intergovernmental Authority on Development Preventive Diplomacy and Mediation will serve as the main guide for member states to effectively, efficiently and transparently design interventions, deploy envoys or mediators and largely engage in conflict prevention, management and resolution in the region," Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) revealed in a statement on May 27.

The protocol on the establishment of IGAD's Preventive Diplomacy and Mediation is expected to effectively respond to regional security challenges through early warning mechanism, according to the East African trade bloc, IGAD.

The globally renowned trade bloc indicated that the protocol was developed through a consultancy intervention that was provided for due consideration by legal and technical experts who were drawn from IGAD member nations.

Representatives from IGAD member countries, under the Committee of Ambassadors platform, also approved the IGAD Mediation Support Unit to establish mechanisms that intended to enhance and boost the mediation capacity of the East African countries, as reported by Xinhua.

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) was established in 1996. It succeeded the earlier Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD), a multinational body founded in 1986 by Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda and Kenya, with a focus on development and environmental control. IGADD's headquarters were later moved to Djibouti, following an agreement signed in January 1986 by the member states. Eritrea joined the organization in 1993, upon achieving independence.

The eight-member group comprises Djibouti, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia.

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