Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — April 28, 2026 | Horn News Hub
Regional leaders and policy experts have called for a shift in how mediation is approached across Africa, as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development convened its first mediation reflection conference in Nairobi, Kenya.
The conference, organized by Intergovernmental Authority on Development, brought together senior officials including Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu and Musalia Mudavadi, alongside international partners, to examine the future of mediation in an increasingly complex global environment.
Held under the theme “Reimagining Mediation in a Fragmented World: The Challenge to African Multilateral Leadership,” discussions focused on how shifting geopolitical dynamics, fragmented governance structures, and declining trust in institutions are reshaping conflict resolution efforts.
Speaking at the forum, Dr. Workneh emphasized that mediation remains a core political responsibility for IGAD and a key measure of the effectiveness of multilateral systems. He noted that the organization must adapt to evolving realities while maintaining credibility in addressing regional conflicts.
Participants highlighted the need for more coordinated and politically grounded mediation approaches. Calls were made for strategies that are unified, coherent, and centered on the needs of communities directly affected by conflict.
The conference comes at a time when the Horn of Africa continues to face overlapping security challenges, reinforcing the urgency of strengthening regional mechanisms for peacebuilding and conflict resolution.
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