Eritrea Withdraws From IGAD Membership
Eritrea Withdraws from IGAD, citing Failure too Reform
Table of Contents
Asmara, Eritrea – December 12, 2025
Eritrea’s Decision to Withdraw
Eritrea has announced its withdrawal from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), effective immediately. The decision, communicated by the Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stems from what it describes as the institution’s failure to address longstanding concerns and its detrimental role in regional affairs.
Historical Involvement and Initial Support
Eritrea played a key role in the revitalization of IGAD in 1993, actively collaborating with other member states to enhance its effectiveness as a platform for regional peace, stability, and economic integration. The country initially envisioned IGAD as a primary vehicle for fostering cooperation within the Horn of Africa.
Growing Disillusionment and Prior Suspension
However, Eritrea alleges that since 2005, IGAD has deviated from its original purpose. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement asserts that the organization has “played a deleterious role becoming a tool against targeted Member States; particularly Eritrea.” This led to Eritrea’s initial suspension of its membership in April 2007.
Brief Re-engagement and Renewed Concerns
Eritrea reactivated its membership in June 2023, expressing hope that IGAD would undertake necessary reforms and address past shortcomings. According to the statement, these hopes were dashed as IGAD “has and continues to renege on its statutory obligations thereby undermining its own relevance and legal mandate.”
Justification for withdrawal
The ministry of Foreign Affairs concluded that Eritrea is “compelled to withdraw its membership from an organization 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.”