Somalia has hosted a high-level meeting to discuss the implementation of the IGAD Free Movement Agreement, as the federal government strives to strengthen regional integration and facilitate the movement of people.
The three-day meeting, which opened today in Mogadishu, is attended by experts and officials from government agencies responsible for migration, border management and regional cooperation.
Somali officials said the meeting will focus on implementing the IGAD Free Movement Agreement, which aims to facilitate travel, trade and access to education and employment opportunities for citizens of the member states, while maintaining security and the laws of the countries.
The Director of the Africa Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdukadir Mahmoud Yusuf Burgal, said that holding the meeting reflects Somalia’s growing role in regional efforts.
“It is a great pleasure for Somalia to host this high-level IGAD meeting, and we hope it will lead to effective cooperation in implementing the movement agreement,” he said.
For his part, the Somali Ambassador to IGAD, Mahmoud Kaashe, said the movement agreement is part of the organization’s plan to enhance economic and social integration in East Africa.
He said Somalia signed the agreement in March 2023, and the government is now focusing on implementing it, while aligning it with the country’s new laws on migration and refugees.
“The implementation of this agreement can facilitate the movement of businessmen, students and pastoralists, and can enhance cooperation and economic growth in the region,” Kaashe said.
The IGAD regional organization has long pursued a plan to implement free movement among member states, although the process has faced challenges due to security, legal and political issues in the countries of the region.
