Promising New Year for Horn of Africa

In late December 2015 the IGAD Security Sector program brought together a team of specialist and expert representatives to validate the IGAD Integrated Maritime Strategy (2030) and its Action Plan.

A Promising New Year for the Horn of Africa.

Intergovernmental Authority for Development [IGAD] is delighted to announce that late December 2015 the Security Sector program brought together a team of specialist and expert representatives for a validation symposium. Representatives were selected by their Ministries of Foreign Affairs of: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda. Their mission was to examine and validate the IGAD Integrated Maritime Strategy (2030) and its Action Plan.

The IMS validation meeting was held over two days in Djibouti and resulted in the signing of all the validation documents by the representatives. Mr Daoud Alwan, Head of the ISSP Maritime Pillar stated ‘the IGAD Integrated Maritime Strategy (IMS 2030) is a comprehensive and detailed document; the first of its kind for the Region and draws together the Horn of Africa’s key players by setting out an agreed future road map and framework. IMS 2030 also takes into consideration the African Union AIM Strategy 2050 and by connecting in this way we can assist in the delivery of the overarching continental vision. The focus is on the cultivation of our maritime sectors whilst at the same time tackling the maritime challenges. Such challenges have restricted our economic progression and caused for International outcry; these issues have only served to impact negatively on inward investment confidence and in turn our maritime communities, this must change from henceforth.

The implementation process will begin in earnest in 2016 with specific attention to the creation of an IGAD Regional Maritime Council, as well as sustainable port development and increased permanent training capability. We intend to work to internalise our training ensuring that we significantly develop and retain local capacity; in particular increasing the viability of the DRTC.

IGAD-SSP calls on all International partners to recognise the legitimacy of the IMS (2030) and Action Plan and to ensure that regional maritime initiatives are accommodating to the strategy.