MOGADISHU — The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has intensified efforts to secure national support for Somalia’s ratification and implementation of the IGAD Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, a regional agreement aimed at promoting mobility, trade and economic integration in the Horn of Africa.
IGAD consultations in Mogadishu brought together government officials, workers’ organizations, journalists and other stakeholders to discuss the protocol’s benefits, including improved labour mobility, employment opportunities and regional cooperation.
An IGAD delegation held talks with the Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU), which expressed support for the protocol, saying it could expand access to decent work, protect migrant workers’ rights and strengthen economic opportunities.
FESTU General Secretary Omar Faruk Osman said the agreement could benefit workers, employers and communities by ensuring safe and regulated labour migration across the region.
IGAD also highlighted the role of media in raising public awareness about the protocol and promoting informed discussions on regional integration.
The consultations were part of a three-day national workshop in Mogadishu involving Somali government institutions, employers’ groups and labour organizations to identify steps toward accelerating ratification and implementation.
Somalia signed the IGAD Protocol on Free Movement of Persons on March 5, 2023. The agreement allows citizens of member states to move, study and work across the region while supporting economic cooperation, regional integration and climate resilience.
