Agreement Establishing IGAD

INTRODUCTION

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) superseded the
Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD) established in 1986 by the then drought afflicted six Eastern African countries of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda. The State of Eritrea was admitted as the seventh member of the Authority at the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, September 1993.

Although IGADD was originally conceived to coordinate the efforts of member states to combat drought and desertification, it became increasingly apparent that the Authority provided a regular forum where leaders of the Eastern African countries were able to tackle other political and socioeconomic issues in a regional context. Realising this the Heads of State and Government of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda, at an extra- ordinary Summit on 18 April 1995, resolved to expand the mandate of IGADD and made a declaration to revitalise IGADD and expand cooperation among member states. The revitalised IGADD was renamed the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).