IGAD member states general elections demonstrate growing regional democracy

By Tobby Otum

The two-year electoral cycle under the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) member states has demonstrated the growing regional commitment to the democratic process.

IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu said the cycle of peaceful elections held in Uganda, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya demonstrated the growing regional democratic process.

He also pointed out this demonstrated adherence to the principles of constitutionalism.

“The IGAD region peacefully and successfully navigated a two-year electoral cycle that ran from 2021 to 2022 in five out of the seven member states,” he added.

Gebeyehu acknowledged that elections are a very significant component of peace and security but nevertheless, they remain only one of the many contributing elements to the regional stability equation.

He spoke during state of the region address held at Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort & Spa in Mombasa county.

The IGAD Executive Secretary said over the past year, IGAD has significantly effected five major peace and security situations that dominated regional and international discourses.

Gebeyehu added that elections is the key highlight of recent challenges and successes and victories within the IGAD arena.

He outlined that peace and security function is what define IGAD, and furthermore it is the changing peace and security situation in the region that has pre-occupied a lot of their attention.

“The conflict in Northern Ethiopia is perhaps the most prominent situation that dominated the focus of international attention within our region and around the world,” he pointed out.

The IGAD boss disclosed integration and the acknowledgment that their individual dreams are best realized is through collective effort.

Gebeyehu said the agreement goes further and charges IGAD first and foremost, to promote peace, security and stability,

He added they eliminate sources of conflict as well as prevent and resolve conflicts in the sub- region as the pathway to national and regional unity.

“We should all commit to heart the opening paragraph of the 1996 agreement establishing IGAD which places the principle of unity at the front and centre of our organization,” he added.