Somalia hosts high-level talks on ratifying IGAD free movement protocol

Senior government officials, regional representatives and other stakeholders have gathered in Somalia for a three-day consultation aimed at advancing the ratification, domestication and implementation of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, as the country moves to strengthen regional cooperation and ease cross-border movement within the Horn of Africa.

The meeting has brought together officials from government institutions, IGAD and other partners to discuss the steps required for Somalia to ratify the protocol, align its provisions with national laws and develop a roadmap that will guide its implementation.

Participants are also reviewing regional initiatives linked to the protocol, including the IGAD Interoperable Identification System and the proposed IGAD Single Visa, which are expected to support the movement of people across member states.

During the consultations, delegates are expected to define the roles of different government institutions and regional bodies while agreeing on practical measures that will help speed up the implementation of the protocol.

The discussions are also focused on creating a framework that supports the movement of people and goods across IGAD countries while ensuring that national security interests and domestic legal requirements are respected.

Speaking during the meeting, IGAD Head of Mission to Somalia Dr Mohamoud Kaarshe said movement across the region is already taking place every day, with people crossing borders for work, education, trade, family reunification and humanitarian reasons.

He said governments have a responsibility to ensure that such movement is managed through systems that are lawful, coordinated and secure.

“People are already moving across our borders every day for employment, education, trade, family reunification and humanitarian reasons. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that this movement takes place within legal, coordinated, secure and predictable systems,” he said.

Officials said the consultations are also expected to strengthen cooperation between national institutions and regional partners by ensuring that responsibilities are clearly defined before the protocol is implemented.

Somalia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the meeting also provides an opportunity for the country to strengthen its position within the region and support wider efforts aimed at improving trade and connectivity among IGAD member states.

Abdulkadir Mahmoud Yusuf, Director of the Ministry's Africa Department, said hosting the consultations reflects Somalia's growing role in regional affairs and its commitment to supporting initiatives that promote cooperation across borders.

“We are pleased to host a conference of this nature in Somalia,” Yusuf said. “It is an important forum focused on the movement of people, and it reinforces Somalia’s position as a strategic hub for trade and regional connectivity.”

The IGAD Protocol on Free Movement of Persons seeks to allow citizens of member countries to enter, travel, reside, study and work across the region under agreed rules. The agreement forms part of wider efforts to deepen regional integration by making it easier for people to move between member states while promoting economic cooperation and labour mobility.

The protocol also supports closer cooperation among member countries in responding to regional challenges, including those related to climate change and disasters that force people to move across borders in search of safety and livelihoods.

In addition to promoting free movement, the agreement provides for regional systems such as interoperable identification documents and a single visa framework that are intended to simplify travel and improve coordination among member states.

Somalia signed the IGAD Protocol on Free Movement of Persons on March 5, 2023, marking an important step towards deeper regional integration and stronger economic cooperation within the bloc.

Since becoming a signatory, the country has been working with regional partners to prepare for the legal and institutional changes required before the agreement can be fully implemented.

The outcome of the three-day consultations is expected to guide Somalia's next steps towards ratifying the protocol, incorporating it into national legislation and putting in place the systems needed to support its implementation while balancing regional cooperation with national priorities.