By Matik Kueth
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) convened a high-level forum in Nairobi, Kenya, on Thursday to formalize a Council of Eminent Personalities, in a major push to strengthen peace and diplomacy in the Horn of Africa.
The forum, held in partnership with the Kenyan government, is a watershed moment in IGAD’s commitment to preventive diplomacy and conflict resolution.
Former heads of state, respected elders, civic leaders, and scholars will comprise the newly formed Council, which is well-known for its wisdom, neutrality, and moral authority.
Its main goal is to serve as a solid advisory body capable of resolving the region’s most pressing conflicts and crises, particularly where traditional institutions have faltered.
IGAD Executive Secretary H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, who co-chaired the forum with Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture, the Arts, and Heritage, Aisha Jumwa, emphasized the Council’s ability to foster trust and reconciliation in a region plagued by political instability, climate-induced displacement, and prolonged violence.
“Our legitimacy comes not from power, but from trust. We must turn the thunder of conflict into the whisper of reconciliation,” Dr. Gebeyehu said in his opening remarks.
As IGAD approaches its 40th anniversary, the creation of the Council signals a strategic evolution from reactive crisis response to proactive peacebuilding.
The council is viewed as a “moral compass offering wisdom, impartiality, and trusted leadership amid complex crises, from armed conflict to climate shocks,” as IGAD acknowledged the continued international support for its peacebuilding initiatives, particularly from the Japanese government, a key development partner in the region.