The role of the IGAD in security and peacebuilding: The case of Somalia

In recent times, the significance attributed to regional organizations has been one of the essential elements in analyzing peace operations, peacekeeping, and coalition operations. Contemporary international governmental organizations across the globe have been established with the main mandate of preventing, managing and resolving conflicts within their areas of influence. Intergovernmental Authority on Development is one such regional organization. Since the 1990s, foreign engagement in civil wars, particularly through peacekeeping operations, has expanded dramatically. This has weakened the traditional concept of non-intervention in internal affairs established in the United Nations Charter, or at least reignited debate over its meaning. Inequalities among regional bodies with regional peacekeeping responsibilities, such as agreements in peace enforcement, came to be viewed as indisputably valid measures, frequently superior to operations carried out through the United Nations. Conceptually, it was natural to believe that these organizations, being closer to the problems of a region and the actors, and having greater control over military means, could manage these missions more effectively. The goal of this paper is to conduct a complete examination of the IGAD’s efficacy in coordinating security and reconciliation initiatives in Somalia, to assess IGAD’s strategic designs, activities, and their impact in promoting regional stability, and to identify the key obstacles and opportunities associated with strengthening IGAD’s capacity for conflict resolution and governance change across the Horn of Africa. In this context, this research based on qualitative methodology has found that IGAD played an active role in the Somali Peace, developed easily adaptable solutions to problems thanks to its flexible structure, and played an active role in drawing the attention of the international public to Somalia and providing financial support.