By John Ikani
Eritrea has announced its re-entry into the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in Eastern Africa (IGAD), a regional East African bloc it had left 16 years ago. The decision reflects the country’s ongoing efforts to rebuild and strengthen its relationships with neighbouring nations.
The Eritrean government had withdrawn from IGAD back in 2007, citing its objection to the entry of Ethiopian troops into Somalia, which aimed to oust the ruling Islamist factions. However, Information Minister Yemane Meskel confirmed on Twitter that Eritrea has now resumed its participation in IGAD, having taken its seat at the 14th Ordinary Summit held in Djibouti.
While the minister did not elaborate on the reasons behind the decision, he emphasized Eritrea’s desire to collaborate with other IGAD members in advancing peace and stability across the region.
Eritrea, under the leadership of President Isaias Afwerki since gaining independence from Ethiopia in 1993, has a history of strained relations with its neighbouring countries.
The nation endured a brutal border war with Ethiopia from 1998 to 2000 and has frequently experienced conflicts with its regional counterparts. Furthermore, Eritrea faces sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union due to allegations of human rights violations.
Despite these challenges, Eritrea has taken several steps in recent years to mend regional ties. In 2018, the country signed a historic peace agreement with Ethiopia, formally putting an end to the longstanding state of war that had prevailed since the border conflict.
Eritrea also reestablished diplomatic relations with Somalia and normalized its ties with Djibouti. Notably, Eritrea has bolstered its relationship with Kenya, as evidenced by Kenya’s announcement earlier this year to open an embassy in Asmara.
However, human rights organizations continue to express concerns about President Afwerki’s repressive regime. They highlight issues such as forced military conscription, which drives thousands of Eritreans to flee the country each year.
Furthermore, Eritrea faced international condemnation for alleged atrocities committed by its soldiers during the 2020-2022 war in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region, where they supported Ethiopian troops against the Tigrayan forces.
