The Secretary-General, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, African Union Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and representatives of the Europena Union, African Development Bank, and Islamic Development Bank joined the Ministers and representatives of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Addis Ababa today.  They exchanged views on opportunities and challenges facing the Horn of Africa region, notably food security, development, peace and security.

They agreed on the critical timing of the joint initiative to help improve food security and economic integration in the Horn of Africa region, given their socio-economic interdependence.

The Secretary-General emphasized that the speed of response to the Ebola epidemic must outpace the speed of its spread. He urged all participants to work together to provide affected countries with the necessary resources to fight Ebola. They noted the importance of greater regional cooperation in supporting affected countries, noting the African Union’s recent decision to send as many as 2,200 healthcare workers assist the affected countries.  

All of the participants agreed on the urgent need for the peace process in South Sudan to yield an implementable and verifiable agreement. The Secretary-General emphasized the UN’s readiness to continue to support IGAD’s role in the peace process. He also stated that underlying causes of the conflict, including over natural resources, must be fully addressed in order for the agreement to be lasting. 
 
With respect to the situation in Somalia, the Secretary-General noted that, while significant progress has been achieved thanks to AMISOM and Somali National Army’s continued fight against Al Shabaab, much work remains to be accomplished, including extending state authority and basic services to newly recovered areas. There was a broad agreement on the need for the international community to increase humanitarian assistance.