According to the communique which was adopted at the conclusion of the 39th Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Extraordinary Assembly of the Heads of State and Government, held in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, the leaders spelt out a new vision for peace, stability and green transition in the region. 

They acknowledged progress towards political stability in Sudan, thanks to the embrace of an inclusive and locally owned mediation process.

And the leaders lauded the positive steps taken by the government of Ethiopia towards humanitarian access and peaceful resolution to the crisis in northern parts of the country.

In addition, the IGAD summit called for additional support to hasten implementation of a revitalised peace agreement in South Sudan. 

The day-long summit was attended by Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of Sudan, Abiy Ahmed Ali, the Ethiopian Prime Minister, and Ismael Omar Guelleh, President of Djibouti, James Wani Igga, Vice President of South Sudan, Mahdi Mohammed Gulaid, Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia and Vincent Bamulakangi Ssempijja, Ugandan Defense Minister.

The leaders underscored the urgency of tackling ongoing conflicts, insecurity, public health and ecological crisis.

 While acknowledging the magnitude of drought in the region that has escalated hunger, malnutrition and water stress, the leaders appealed for speedy interventions to avert a full-blown humanitarian crisis. 

According to the communique, the governments and donors should commit more resources towards emergency support for drought victims in the Horn of Africa region besides scaling up financing for resilience programmes including climate-smart agro-pastoralism. 

They added that the decision by the government of the Republic of Sudan to host the IGAD Centre of Health Emergency Preparedness and Response was timely given the recurring disease outbreaks linked to climatic shocks.