Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has expressed gratitude to the members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) for their support in lifting the arms embargo on Somalia and for Somalia’s inclusion in the East African Community (EAC) regional bloc.
Addressing the 41st extraordinary session of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Djibouti City on Saturday, President Mohamud emphasized the common challenges shared by the region’s countries, including terrorism, the impacts of climate change, and conflicts.
In November, Somalia joined the East African Community (EAC) to boost economic growth after three decades of war. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud described the country’s entry into the regional trade bloc as a “beacon of hope” for Somalia.
Earlier this month, the UN Security Council unanimously voted to lift the final restrictions on weapons deliveries to Somalia’s government and its security forces. The Security Council first imposed a general and complete arms embargo on Somalia in 1992 as a reaction to the then-conflict and deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country.
