IGAD Executive Secretary Dr Workneh Gebeyehu has joined world leaders in New York for the opening of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where the regional bloc is advancing priorities on peace, resilience and shared prosperity.
IGAD is using UNGA81 to strengthen international partnerships and mobilise support for peace in Sudan, El Niño preparedness and coordinated responses to challenges facing the Horn of Africa.
The UN General Assembly provides IGAD with a global platform to engage governments, development partners and international institutions on regional peace, climate resilience, humanitarian needs and sustainable development.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has stepped up its engagement with global partners as leaders and high-level representatives gather in New York for the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81).
IGAD Executive Secretary H.E. Dr Workneh Gebeyehu is participating in the high-level meetings, where the regional bloc is seeking to strengthen international cooperation around peace, stability, resilience and shared prosperity in the Horn of Africa.
Gebeyehu arrived in New York on September 21, 2026, leading a high-level IGAD delegation for engagements with UN Member States, the United Nations, the African Union, development partners and other international institutions.
The engagement comes as the UN begins its high-level week, with the General Debate running from September 22 to 26 and continuing on September 28 at UN Headquarters in New York.
According to IGAD, the Executive Secretary's participation is focused on mobilising stronger international action on issues affecting the Horn of Africa.
The regional organisation highlighted priorities including advancing peace in Sudan, strengthening preparedness for El Niño, and reinforcing multilateral cooperation to respond to interconnected regional challenges.
“We must place Sudanese people at the centre of all efforts, support the de-escalation of the conflict, and unite behind one Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned peace process,” remarked Dr. Workneh.
IGAD's presence at UNGA81 provides an opportunity for the organisation to engage directly with international partners on challenges that require cooperation beyond national and regional borders.
The organisation has positioned these engagements around its broader mandate of promoting peace, stability, development and resilience across its member states.
The 81st session of the UN General Assembly formally opened on September 8, 2026, under the presidency of H.E. Dr Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh. The theme of the session is “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All.”
The opening session placed renewed emphasis on strengthening trust in multilateral institutions and improving their ability to deliver concrete results.
Rahman said restoring trust would require both delivery and reform, while calling for greater cooperation among Member States.
The high-level week brings together heads of state and government and other senior representatives to discuss international peace and security, development, climate action and other global priorities.
The UN describes the 2026 high-level week as an opportunity to revitalise global cooperation, advance the Sustainable Development Goals and promote collective action on peace, dignity and equality.
For IGAD, the UN gathering comes at a time when the region continues to face interconnected challenges involving conflict, humanitarian needs, climate-related risks and economic pressures.
The organisation's engagement is therefore intended to strengthen partnerships and mobilise support for regional initiatives.
IGAD said Gebeyehu's mission in New York centres on mobilising urgent international action for peace in Sudan, advancing coordinated preparedness for El Niño and reinforcing multilateral cooperation to address challenges facing the region.
The emphasis on climate resilience also comes against the backdrop of recent regional efforts to strengthen preparedness for El Niño. Earlier in September, IGAD Member States and partners issued a high-level call to action on El Niño preparedness, anticipatory action and resilience.
IGAD's participation also builds on efforts to strengthen its institutional presence within the UN system.
In September 2025, the organisation inaugurated its Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations in New York, creating a dedicated platform for deeper engagement with the UN and international partners.
The mission was established to strengthen IGAD's advocacy and cooperation on issues including peace and security, climate resilience, humanitarian response, health and sustainable development.
At UNGA81, this presence provides an avenue for IGAD to communicate the priorities of its member states and engage with partners on potential areas of cooperation.
The General Debate officially began on September 22 and will run through September 26, before resuming on September 28. Several high-level meetings are also scheduled during the week.
These include a September 23 meeting commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development, a September 24 meeting addressing the threat posed by sea-level rise, and a September 25 meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
The wide-ranging agenda gives regional organisations such as IGAD an opportunity to connect regional priorities with broader international discussions.
As Dr Workneh Gebeyehu engages global leaders and institutions in New York, IGAD is seeking to reinforce partnerships that can support peace, resilience and sustainable development across the Horn of Africa.
The organisation's participation underscores its efforts to ensure that regional priorities remain part of international discussions and that cooperation with global partners translates into stronger responses to the challenges facing communities across the region.