BY INNOCENT KIIZA
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Geneva Call, a humanitarian organization dedicated to protecting civilians in conflict zones. The agreement, signed by IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu and Geneva Call Director General Alain Deletroz, is expected to strengthen cooperation on humanitarian action and peacebuilding across one of Africa’s most volatile regions.
The MoU establishes a framework for collaboration in five critical areas: protecting civilians in armed conflicts and situations of violence, promoting respect for international humanitarian law and humanitarian norms, supporting peacebuilding and conflict-prevention initiatives, advancing the Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus, and building institutional capacity through training and technical support.
Dr. Gebeyehu emphasized that the agreement reflects IGAD’s “steadfast commitment to protecting lives, strengthening humanitarian principles, and fostering sustainable peace across the Horn of Africa.”
Uganda’s Role in Peace Missions
Uganda, one of IGAD’s founding members, has consistently contributed to peacekeeping missions both within the region and across Africa. Vice President Jessica Alupo recently reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment during her address at the United Nations General Assembly, stressing that stability in the Horn of Africa remains critical for the continent’s wider development agenda.
The signing of the MoU comes at a time when international humanitarian law is under renewed scrutiny. A new report by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, concluded that Israeli authorities committed four of the five genocidal acts defined under the 1948 Genocide Convention in Gaza.
According to the Commission, Israeli forces carried out acts including killing, causing serious bodily and mental harm, deliberately inflicting living conditions calculated to destroy Palestinians in whole or in part, and imposing measures intended to prevent births. The inquiry, which has investigated events since October 7, 2023, cites explicit statements by Israeli officials and the conduct of security forces as evidence of genocidal intent. The Commission urged Israel and all states to “fulfil their legal obligations under international law to end the genocide and punish those responsible.” Israel has denied such allegations.
Why It Matters for the Horn of Africa
Dr. Gebeyehu said IGAD’s partnership with Geneva Call is timely. The Horn of Africa has endured decades of armed conflict, cross-border insecurity, and displacement. Millions remain vulnerable to violence and humanitarian crises, from Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict to ongoing instability in Somalia and South Sudan.
“Peace and humanitarian protection are no longer optional they are urgent necessities,” said Deletroz, noting that Geneva Call’s experience in promoting humanitarian norms among armed actors complements IGAD’s political and regional mandate.
The Geneva Legacy
The MoU also resonates with the historical roots of humanitarian law. The Geneva Conventions, first adopted in 1864 following Henry Dunant’s call to action after witnessing the Battle of Solferino, laid the foundation for protecting civilians, soldiers, and medical workers during armed conflict.
Today, the principles born in Geneva continue to guide international responses to crises from Africa to the Middle East. For IGAD and Geneva Call, the partnership is not just about policy agreements but about tangible impact on the ground. Training programs, awareness campaigns, and coordinated peacebuilding efforts are expected to roll out in the coming months.
“The protection of civilians must remain at the heart of all humanitarian and peacebuilding efforts,” Dr. Gebeyehu said. “Together, we aim to bridge divides and bring lasting stability to the Horn of Africa.”
The success of the partnership will ultimately be measured by its impact on the millions still trapped in cycles of violence across the Horn of Africa.
