IGAD regrets Eritrea’s ‘premature’ withdrawal from regional bloc

Eritrea’s flag, second from right, among IGAD member states’ flags after Asmara formally reactivated its memebrship in June 2023 16 years after it left the bloc. (Photo: IGAD)

By Amina Wako
Friday, December 12, 2025

However, IGAD noted with concern that since rejoining in 2023, Eritrea has not participated in any IGAD meetings, programmes, or activities. The Secretariat said it had remained patient throughout this period while keeping communication channels open.

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has expressed regret over Eritrea’s decision to withdraw from the regional bloc, describing the move as unfortunate and premature. This comes after Asmara formally notified the IGAD Secretariat of its exit through an official Note Verbale dated December 12.

In a statement, IGAD said it had “taken note of the decision by Eritrea to withdraw from the Organisation,” adding that Eritrea’s latest move follows years of non-participation.

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IGAD recalled that Eritrea had self-suspended its activities within the bloc for nearly two decades before reactivating its membership in June 2023 during the 14th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government.

During that meeting, IGAD said, Asmara was “unanimously and warmly welcomed back by all Member States, reflecting a collective commitment to inclusivity, regional solidarity, and renewed cooperation.”

However, IGAD noted with concern that since rejoining in 2023, Eritrea has not participated in any IGAD meetings, programmes, or activities. The Secretariat said it had remained patient throughout this period while keeping communication channels open.

“IGAD further regrets that the decision to withdraw was taken without the submission of tangible proposals or engagement on specific institutional or policy reforms,” the organisation said, stressing that its consultative mechanisms had always been available.

Despite the withdrawal, the bloc says it will continue to reach out to Eritrea and hopes the country will reconsider its decision.

“The IGAD Secretariat encourages it to reconsider its position and to fully rejoin the Organisation in good faith, in order to advance shared objectives for peace, stability, and development across the region,” the statement added.

In its statement announcing the withdrawal, Eritrea accused IGAD of straying from its founding principles and acting against the interests of some of its member states.

Asmara said it was “compelled to withdraw its membership from an organisation that has forfeited its legal mandate and authority, offering no discernible strategic benefit to all its constituencies and failing to contribute substantively to the stability of the region.”

The Eritrean government argued that although it played a “pivotal role” during IGAD’s revitalisation in 1993, the bloc had since 2005 “played a deleterious role, becoming a tool against targeted Member States, particularly Eritrea.”

Eritrea first suspended its membership in 2007 due to disputes with other members, particularly Ethiopia, but formally rejoined in June 2023 after 16 years out.

IGAD maintains it remains committed to “fostering regional cooperation, dialogue, and collective action for the benefit of the peoples of the Horn of Africa.”