IGAD | WORKNEH | RUTO

NEW YORK - The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, has welcomed the leadership role of newly sworn-in Kenya president William Samoei Ruto in the IGAD region. 

According to a press release from the IGAD secretariat, Workneh expressed his sentiments before Ruto on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 77) in New York, US on September 22, 2022. 

 The two principles deliberated on the region's current peace and Security situation and the ongoing humanitarian crises. 

Workneh also took the opportunity to congratulate Ruto, who reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to supporting IGAD’s regional stabilisation efforts for greater solidarity and prosperity. 

Workneh expressed his sentiments before Ruto on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 77) in New York, US on September 22, 2022. (IGAD Photo)

Meeting with UNHCR chief

Workneh also later meet with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi at the UNHCR offices in New York to deliberate on the current humanitarian crisis and refugee situation in the IGAD region.

Trade bloc 

IGAD is an eight-country trade bloc in Africa. It includes governments from the Horn of Africa, Nile Valley and the African Great Lakes. It is headquartered in Djibouti City, Djibouti. The countries are Uganda, Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania and Eritrea.  

About UNGA 77 

The UNGA 77 opened on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, under the theme: A watershed moment: Transformative solutions to interlocking challenges. 

The UNGA is the main policy-making organ of the Organisation. Comprising all Member States, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter of the United Nations. Each of the 193 Member States of the United Nations has an equal vote.