Eritrea rejoins IGAD at a time when the regional organization, like its peers elsewhere, is being criticized for being ineffective in playing the primary roles. However, Eritrea’s return to IGAD after a 16-year hiatus carries significant implications. The most noticeable of these implications can be seen through the lens of the essential aspects that the country emphasized following its resumption of participation at the 14th Ordinary Summit in Djibouti. Eritrea, expressing its willingness to cooperate with other member states, utilized the opportunity of its return to highlight at least five critical areas it believes are necessary for rejuvenating and making IGAD more effective and relevant.

Focus on Development

Eritrea emphasized that a dedicated focus on development is crucial for the strength and success of IGAD. By doing so, Eritrea envisions an IGAD where member countries prioritize economic growth, infrastructure development, and social progress within their respective nations. Eritrea firmly believes that investing in development is the key to effectively addressing the root causes of conflicts and instability, leading to a more stable and prosperous region.

This idea is not unfounded. Development initiatives can foster economic interdependence, improve living standards, and reduce inequality, thereby promoting greater stability and cooperation among member states. Eritrea serves as an example of this concept in action. Its self-reliance policy and approach to engaging with international organizations have proven beneficial to its people, allowing them to maintain their independence in decision-making and policy formulation.

Regional Peace and Security

Additionally, Eritrea underscored the importance of IGAD playing a leading role in fostering regional peace and security. This entails proactive rather than reactive engagement in conflict prevention, mediation, and resolution efforts. Eritrea’s thinking seems to be that IGAD should work towards building trust, facilitating dialogue, and promoting reconciliation among member states. This is not a farfetched idea, seeing as Eritrea is arguably the most stable country right now in the region.

By taking the lead in peace and security matters, Eritrea definitely foresees IGAD establishing itself as a reliable and capable regional organization, enhancing its credibility and influence both within Africa and internationally. This too, is not unfounded. Eritrea boasts one of the most powerful militaries in the region and continent and understands the need for collaborative security initiatives, intelligence sharing, and joint military exercises in enhancing the collective security of member states and addressing transnational threats such as terrorism and organized crime.

A synergetic regional approach to external relations

Eritrea further emphasizes the importance of IGAD adopting a synergetic regional approach to external relations. According to Eritrea, member countries should work cohesively together to engage with external actors, including other regional organizations, international partners, and global institutions. This approach will enhance IGAD’s credibility and earn it the respect of other powerful states, leading to a genuine interest in mutual development initiatives, as Eritrea itself has experienced from partners such as Russia.

By presenting a united front and coordinating their efforts, IGAD member states can enhance their influence, negotiate more effectively, and achieve better outcomes in their interactions with external entities. Eritrea believes that speaking with one voice and jointly advocating for their common interests will enable IGAD to foster stronger partnerships, secure economic cooperation, and promote diplomatic dialogue, ultimately contributing to the stability and development of the region.

Indeed, Eritrea utilized its return to IGAD to call for the organization to take the lead in addressing the Sudan crisis. This is significant, given previous criticism directed at IGAD and the AU for relinquishing their responsibilities to non-African organizations, particularly the EU and the League of Arab States. With its return, Eritrea aims to lend its weight of independence and determination to IGAD, enabling the organization to fulfill its primary role in resolving conflicts in the region.

Effective self-financing

Furthermore, Eritrea emphasized the need for IGAD to establish effective self-financing mechanisms. This entails striving to generate its own financial resources and reducing reliance on external funding sources. By establishing sustainable funding mechanisms, such as membership dues, contributions from member states, and revenue-generating activities, IGAD can maintain its autonomy and flexibility in decision-making processes.

Again, this is not unfounded. Eritrea, more than any other country in Africa, holds the moral high ground when it comes to ideas on self-sustainability, as the country has pursued such a policy since its independence and has greatly benefited from it. Eritrea recognizes that effective self-financing will grant IGAD greater control over its agenda, programs, and initiatives, reducing susceptibility to external influences that may arise from reliance on donor funding.

It will also foster a sense of ownership among member states, encouraging their active participation and commitment to the organization’s objectives. Moreover, self-financing will enhance IGAD’s credibility and sustainability, ensuring its long-term strength and ability to independently address regional challenges without predatory foreign influences.

Fidelity to its rules

The issue of IGAD’s fidelity to its rules is something that Eritrea does not compromise on. It was actually the lack of this, that back in 2007, compelled Eritrea to withdraw its membership after several resolutions that undermined regional stability were adopted under the guise of IGAD. The withdrawal was a protest against the IGAD’s manipulation by non-African actors, as there was evidence of foreign decision-making being presented as the common position of IGAD.

Thus, on its return, Eritrea wasted no time in emphasizing fidelity to rules as a vital ingredient for IGAD’s its strength and success. According to the country, it is crucial that member states adhere to IGAD’s rules and principles by among others, upholding the organization’s charter, protocols, and agreements. Only fidelity to these rules guarantees that member states operate within a framework of shared norms and values, fostering trust, cooperation, and predictability among them. By adhering to agreed-upon rules, Eritrea believes IGAD can establish a rules-based order, where decisions and actions are guided by a common set of principles.

This will contribute to the organization’s strength and success by providing a solid foundation for collective decision-making, conflict resolution, and dispute settlement processes. Fidelity to rules is also one way that member states will be able to demonstrate their commitment to the organization’s objectives and reinforce the legitimacy and credibility of IGAD as a regional institution.

Conclusion

Eritrea’s return to IGAD after a 16-year hiatus carries significant implications for the organization’s future. Through its emphasis on key aspects following its resumption of participation, such as development, regional peace and security, synergetic external relations, effective self-financing, and fidelity to its rules, Eritrea is already setting the stage for IGAD’s rejuvenation, for a more effective and relevant organization, capable of addressing regional challenges, promoting peace, and fostering development. Through collective efforts and a commitment to the highlighted aspects, IGAD is now likely to start playing a central role in ensuring the stability, progress, and well-being of its member states and Africa as a continent.