Africa-Press – Ethiopia. December 13, 2025 2 minutes read Addis Abeba — The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) said it has taken note of Eritrea’s decision to withdraw from the regional bloc, expressing regret over the move and urging Asmara to reconsider its position, a day after Eritrean authorities announced their formal exit citing the organization’s alleged failure to meet the aspirations of the region.
In a statement issued following Eritrea’s notification through a formal Note Verbale, IGAD recalled that Eritrea had self-suspended its participation in the organization for nearly two decades before formally rejoining in June 2023, after the 14th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government. At the time, IGAD said, Eritrea was unanimously welcomed back by all member states, reflecting a shared commitment to inclusivity, regional solidarity, and renewed cooperation.
However, the organization noted with regret that since reactivating its membership in June 2023, Eritrea had not participated in IGAD meetings, programs, or activities. The Secretariat said it had exercised patience and goodwill throughout this period while remaining open to constructive engagement with the Eritrean government.
IGAD further stated that Eritrea’s decision to withdraw was taken without the submission of specific proposals or engagement on concrete institutional or policy reforms, despite the organization’s openness to dialogue through its established consultative mechanisms.
In response, the Secretariat said it would continue outreach efforts to the Government of Eritrea and encouraged it to fully rejoin the organization in good faith, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts to advance peace, stability, and development in the Horn of Africa.
The statement comes after Eritrea announced yesterday that it had informed IGAD of its withdrawal, accusing the bloc of long-standing failure to uphold its mandate and of playing what it described as a “deleterious role” in regional affairs, particularly targeting Eritrea. IGAD, for its part, reaffirmed its commitment to fostering regional cooperation, dialogue, and collective action for the benefit of the peoples of the region.
Eritrea’s latest departure from the regional bloc comes after diplomatic efforts within IGAD brought Asmara back into the bloc’s fold on 8 July 2018. Then-IGAD Executive Secretary Amb. (Eng.) Mahboub Maalim praised Ethiopia and Eritrea’s rapprochement following the commitment to implement the Algiers Agreement.
“The normalization of relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea and the resolution of the border issue will undoubtedly benefit the people of the two countries and would contribute to the realization of our shared aspiration of peace and economic integration of our region,” Maalim wrote.
However, its formal rejoining occurred in June 2023, when Eritrea re-entered the regional bloc it had left 16 years earlier. It resumed its activities in IGAD after it took its seat at the 14th Ordinary Summit in Djibouti.
Eritrea’s fraught relationship with IGAD has seen earlier attempts at rapprochement. In July 2011, Asmara moved to reactivate its membership in the bloc, four years after walking out in protest over what it said was IGAD’s position on “Ethiopia’s military intervention in Somalia”. At the time, analysts described Eritrea’s 2007 withdrawal as an early marker of deteriorating relations between the Red Sea nation and its regional neighbors, particularly over the conflict in Somalia, where al-Shabaab was fighting to topple a UN-backed government.
“I have the honour to inform you and through you the member states of IGAD that the State of Eritrea has decided to reactivate its membership in IGAD with immediate effect,” Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh wrote in a letter addressed to IGAD Executive Secretary Mahboub Maalim.
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