IGAD Heads of State and Government Adopt a Regional Approach to Combating COVID-19

The Heads of State and Government of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) today convened an Extraordinary Summit via Video Conference to deliberate on a regional IGAD strategy to combat the spread of the Corona Virus (COVID-19) in the region.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Sudan and Chairperson of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government, H.E. Abdalla Hamdok; the President of the Republic of Djibouti, H.E. Ismail Omar Guelleh; Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, H.E. Dr Abiy Ahmed; President of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta; President of the Republic of Somalia, H.E. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo; President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E. Yoweri Museveni, and the First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan, H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny participated in the video conference convened by the IGAD Chairperson and facilitated by the Executive Secretary of IGAD, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu.

Following the welcoming remarks by Prime Minister Hamdok, the Executive Secretary of IGAD made his opening statement and emphasised the need for a collective regional strategy to combat COVID-19 in the IGAD region. He also called for the establishment of an IGAD regional emergency fund for the control of pandemic diseases as well as the strengthening of health systems in the region.

The IGAD Heads of State and Government submitted detailed reports on the status of coronavirus infections, fatalities and recoveries in their respective countries, as well as the measures they are undertaking to combat the pandemic. The IGAD Heads of State and Government also recognised and appreciated the efforts of the chairperson, H.E. Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdock and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia H.E. Abiy Ahmed Ali to mobilise support from the international community particularly the generous donation of protective equipment and testing kits by the founder and director of the Ali Baba Group to the African continent.