Djibouti – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has encountered a series of challenges and had to make concessions during the recently concluded IGAD summit, sources told Horn Examiner.
These setbacks highlighted the President’s struggle to effectively advocate for Somalia’s interests on the global stage.
One notable development was Somalia’s payment of $500,000 to IGAD as a demonstration of its commitment to the bloc and to gain relevance in the decision-making process.
At first, the President’s team was caught off guard by the unexpected changes introduced at IGAD, notably the signing of the IGAD treaty. This treaty led to substantial structural alterations within the body, transforming it into an economic block.
Consequently, the President had to adjust his position to align with these changes. After the treaty signing, Somalia aspired to secure the deputy position of the Executive Secretary.
However, it was determined that Somalia would be assigned the less influential deputy role, which led to further disappointment. Moreover, the President learned that his proposed candidate’s approval would be subject to the ministerial level instead of the Heads of State summit.
Moreover, the President was informally informed that his favored candidate, Mohamed Abdi Waare, was considered unsuitable due to his association with Sahan Research. The presence of the Eritrean delegation, which was recently re-integrated into IGAD, exacerbated the situation, as they held reservations regarding Waare’s suitability.
The controversial nomination of Ware, a current Villa Somalia Envoy on Stabilization and former employee of Sahan Research, a war profiteering organization with a notorious history of crimes in the Horn of Africa, has sparked concerns and raised eyebrows among participants.
According to sources, Ware’s name had been prepared for approval, but there was a sudden shift in the rules of the game, leaving many perplexed.
However, his affiliation with Sahan Research, an organization responsible for spreading false information that led to the sanctioning of Eritrea, added to the controversy surrounding his nomination.
Horn Examiner has established that Ware’s association with Sahan complicated matters as majority of members opposed any Sahan affiliate within the bloc.
President Hassan was taken aback when his favored nominee for the IGAD Peace Envoy to Sudan was overlooked. In contrast to other Heads of State, the Somali President put forth one of his trusted presidential envoys, who shares the same origin from the State of Galmudug, to handle a critical regional issue.
These failures add to a growing list of diplomatic setbacks for the President, who campaigned on fostering good relations with the international community.
However, despite his efforts, he has struggled to forge meaningful alliances and maintain a favorable standing with partner nations.
However, it was a big win for Somalia’s neighboring States as Djibouti’s President Ismael Omar Guelleh assumed the Chairmanship of IGAD for a one-year rotational term.
In addition, Kenya’s President William Ruto was tasked with leading a quartet for Sudan peace talks, highlighting Kenya’s involvement in regional diplomatic efforts.
Meanwhile, Ethiopia retained the influential Executive Secretary position as its Former Foreign Minister Workenneh Gebeyahu had his tenure extended by an additional four years, solidifying his role within the organization.
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