Your Excellency Moussa Faki, Chairperson African Union Commission,

Your Excellency, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of the Republic of Sudan, and Chairperson of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government,

Your Excellency, Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary IGAD,

Distinguished Envoys and Representatives,Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Government and the people of Kenya, I warmly welcome you to Nairobi.

We are honoured to host this 39th Extraordinary IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government, to deliberate on strategic issues of mutual interest to us all as Members of the IGAD region.

Excellencies,

When you reflect on the challenges confronting this region, it leaves no doubt that the Horn of Africa is, perhaps one of the most complex and dynamic regions in the continent.

In the past two years alone, the region has experienced a desert locust invasion; a crushing drought that is still ongoing; numerous threats related to violent extremism; armed conflicts; and, like the rest of the world, the region has not been spared from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Further, the drought, the worst in 40 years, has intensified food insecurity, dried up water sources and forced displacement of people, raising tensions that could trigger new conflicts. We urgently need to manage the drought before it becomes a threat multiplier.

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is worthy noting that despite these challenges, the people in the Horn of Africa are determined to forge ahead to build a better future for themselves and the next generation.

And also worth of pointing out is that the picture is not totally bleak. We have recently celebrated the peaceful transition of power in Somalia and some of the conflicts that have rocked the region are subsiding.

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As leaders, it is incumbent upon us to work together, boldly and creatively, to navigate the multiple crises we face, seize opportunities as they emerge and define a path of peace and sustainable economic development.

It is, Ladies and Gentlemen, in our interest to do so because we have a shared vision – to become a politically stable, peaceful, and prosperous region. And we know very well, we cannot achieve sustainable development and prosperity without peace and stability.

Our discussions today are, therefore, of immense importance to Kenya because we recognize that our political and economic stability is dependent on the stability of the IGAD region. This is why we are invested in regional efforts to secure peace and stability. Kenya remains actively engaged in regional and international efforts in search for peace, stability, and development.

Further, as a non- permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, Kenya continues to use its global voice on behalf of the region, to advance African solutions to African problems.

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are a formidable force when we work towards a common agenda and when we, collectively, seek solutions to the challenges we face as a region. I, therefore, wish to reiterate that Kenya will continue to collaborate with regional and international partners to strengthen conflict prevention, and promote sustainable peace and development.

Kenya will also continue to work towards strengthening the conflict resolution capacity and overall capability of our regional institutions; in particular, the East Africa Community (EAC), Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the African Union (AU), to make them more effective in accelerating the transformation towards the peaceful and prosperous region we all aspire to achieve.

As I conclude, let me assure you of Kenya’s commitment to the process of finding lasting solutions to the challenges that the Horn of Africa continues to face. I look forward to our exchange of views on how we can work together towards peace, prosperity, and sustainability in our region. I wish you fruitful deliberations.

Thank You.