FM to host meeting on Horn of Africa situation

Finland, under the leadership of Foreign Minister Haavisto, invites EU foreign ministers to discuss the situation in the wider region on the Horn of Africa on 8 July, said a government press release.

The video conference will be attended by high-level representatives from the African Union, the European Union, and the United Nations.

The aim of the conference is to exchange views on the current situation in the Horn of Africa and to create a shared opinion on measures to support the region. Several countries in the Horn of Africa are undergoing societal changes that have an impact on the positive development of the region’s security and economy. Cooperation between international institutions and their commitment to the support of the Horn of Africa form a central part of the strengthening of societies in the region.

In addition to the EU foreign ministers, the conference will be attended by EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen, Managing Director for Africa at the European External Action Service Koen Vervaeke and European Union Special Representative for the Horn of Africa Alexander Rondos. Keynote speeches will be given by Commissioner of the African Union Peace and Security Commission Smaïl Chergui, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary A DiCarlo and Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Workneh Gebeyehu.

“Societal changes in the Horn of Africa impact widely both the entire continent and the surrounding regions in the Red Sea, for example. International cooperation with the African Union is essential in supporting the region on the Horn of Africa. Finland has close contacts with partners in the Horn of Africa and we want to be a constructive actor in this cooperation also in future,” said Foreign Minister Haavisto.