Spotlight

Uganda Calls for Stronger Regional Action as Horn of Africa Faced Overlapping Crises

Amiri Wabusimba

Djibouti, Djibouti

Djibouti, Djibouti — Uganda called for stronger regional cooperation, conflict prevention, economic integration and institutional coordination as the Horn of Africa confronted interconnected political, security, humanitarian and climate-related challenges. The call was made by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in charge of Regional Affairs, Hon. Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo, while addressing the 74th Extraordinary Session of the IGAD Council of Ministers in Djibouti on 15 September 2026.

Hon. Kasolo said the region faced a critical convergence of political instability, armed conflict, fragile governance, humanitarian emergencies and climate shocks, with consequences increasingly crossing national borders. He noted that conflict was estimated to reduce annual GDP by 2–3 percent across affected IGAD Member States, adding pressure to economies already facing significant humanitarian and development needs.

The scale of the humanitarian situation was reflected in figures presented during the session. Approximately 49 million people were facing acute food insecurity, while more than 19 million people were internally displaced across the region. Sudan remained a major centre of the crisis, with about 19.5 million people facing crisis levels of hunger and approximately 9 million people displaced by conflict.

Against this backdrop, Uganda urged Member States to strengthen IGAD mechanisms for early warning, conflict prevention and coordinated crisis response. Hon. Kasolo called for implementation of an IGAD Strategic Plan focused on conflict prevention and inclusive governance, economic integration, climate resilience and institutional coordination. He further called for stronger regional trade corridors and the free movement of people, capital, goods and services, while emphasising the need to address underlying drivers of displacement and instability.

The emphasis on prevention followed wider efforts to strengthen IGAD’s early-warning capacity. In June 2026, IGAD and the African Development Bank launched SECURES-IGAD, aimed at strengthening early-warning data and crisis-prevention systems in Djibouti, Sudan, Somalia and South Sudan and improving links between early-warning mechanisms and decision-makers.

Uganda also highlighted the regional implications of conflicts beyond the Horn of Africa, particularly developments in the Middle East, which could affect shipping, energy and food prices, humanitarian financing and regional stability.

On institutional matters, Hon. Kasolo called for predictable financing, transparency, accountability and equitable geographical representation within IGAD structures. Uganda also welcomed the IGAD Regional Migration Fund’s support to refugees and host communities while underscoring the importance of effective oversight.

Reaffirming Uganda’s commitment to regional peace and security, Hon. Kasolo highlighted Uganda’s contributions to peace operations in Somalia and its support for peace processes in South Sudan and Sudan. He called for sustained engagement through IGAD and other regional and continental mechanisms, including regular Council of Ministers sessions to strengthen political oversight, accountability and continuity.

For Uganda, the session underscored the importance of prevention, dialogue, economic integration, institutional coordination and shared responsibility in addressing the interconnected challenges confronting the Horn of Africa.