Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — May 18, 2026 | Horn News Hub
The Horn Inter-Elite Dialogue | Jijiga Forum 2026 officially opened on Monday in Jijiga, bringing together senior political leaders, diplomats, scholars, and policy experts from across the Horn of Africa for high-level discussions on regional peace, cooperation, and strategic integration.
Held under the theme “Strategic Conversations. Regional Solutions. African Agency,” the three-day forum is organized by the Center for Responsible and Peaceful Politics in collaboration with the Institute of Foreign Affairs and the Somali Regional State, with financial support from the European Union, HANKAAL Institute, and Jigjiga University.
The forum aims to promote regionally driven approaches to peacebuilding, strategic autonomy, and long-term cooperation in the Horn of Africa amid ongoing political, economic, and security challenges.
Among the prominent participants are Workneh Gebeyehu Secretary of IGAD, Ethiopia’s Chief of Staff Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, senior Ethiopian parliamentary speakers, Somalia’s Minister of Commerce Mohamed Hussein, Djibouti’s Minister of Finance, officials from Kenya’s Garissa County government, representatives from Somaliland, Getachew Reda, Redwan Hussien, alongside ministers, journalists, researchers, and scholars from across the region.
Speakers during the opening sessions emphasized the growing need for stronger regional dialogue and coordinated responses to shared challenges facing the Horn of Africa. Discussions are expected to focus on regional security, economic integration, infrastructure connectivity, diplomacy, and institutional cooperation.
Participants also stressed the importance of developing African-led solutions and strengthening intellectual and policy collaboration within the region. Several speakers highlighted the role of universities and research institutions in producing regional scholars capable of shaping a more connected and cooperative Horn of Africa.
Organizers stated that the Jijiga Forum is intended to become a recurring regional platform aimed at fostering sustained dialogue among political, academic, and policy elites across the Horn.
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