Ethiopia Hosts Horn Inter-Elite Dialogue in Push for Deeper Regional Integration, Lasting Peace

Addis Ababa, May 18, 2026 —Senior government officials, policymakers, and regional experts from across the Horn of Africa have called for deeper regional integration, stronger cooperation, and sustainable peace during a high-level dialogue hosted in eastern Ethiopia.

The Horn Inter-Elite Dialogue, held in Jigjiga, brought together senior officials from across the region to discuss strategic autonomy, regional integration, and long-term peacebuilding in the Horn of Africa.

The forum was jointly organized by the Institute of Foreign Affairs, the Centre for Responsible and Peaceful Politics, and the Somali Region administration under the theme “Strengthening Regional Agency for Strategic Autonomy and Durable Peace in the Horn of Africa.”

 

Participants stressed that while the Horn occupies one of the world’s most strategically important locations along major global maritime trade routes, the region continues to face fragmented cooperation, persistent insecurity, and growing external geopolitical competition.

Officials noted that regional instability, climate shocks, migration pressures, economic fragmentation, and competition over strategic corridors linked to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden continue to challenge long-term development efforts.

Opening the forum, Director General of the Institute of Foreign Affairs Jafar Bedru said countries in the Horn must address internal political divisions that often create opportunities for external actors to influence regional affairs.

 

He stressed the importance of turning calls for African-led solutions into practical regional cooperation mechanisms.

Somalia’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Jamaal Mohamed said the Horn is too often defined by conflict narratives, despite its long history of economic and social interconnectedness.

He noted that communities across borders have historically maintained strong trade and cultural ties, while political institutions have struggled to match that level of integration.

On his part, Djibouti’s Minister of Economy and Finance Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh emphasized that engagement with global powers should be approached through stronger regional coordination rather than isolated national interests.

 

From Kenya, Garissa Governor Nathif Jama Adam highlighted how border communities face the direct consequences of displacement, insecurity, migration, climate pressures, and trade disruptions.

He called for stronger regional coordination through the Intergovernmental Authority on Development to address cross-border challenges.

 

Hosting the forum, Chief Administrator  of Somali Region Mustafe Mohamed Omar said Jigjiga’s location reflects its growing importance as a regional gateway connecting Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, and broader regional communities.

He said the Horn’s challenges are increasingly transnational, while policy responses often remain confined within national borders.

 

From Ethiopia’s perspective, the forum reflects the country’s broader diplomatic push under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's leadership to promote regional dialogue, trade connectivity, infrastructure cooperation, and African-led solutions to shared regional challenges.

Officials said the Jigjiga Forum is expected to become an annual platform for advancing peacebuilding, trade integration, infrastructure coordination, and stronger regional cooperation across the Horn of Africa.