The 22nd session of the CEN-SAD Executive Council was held in Tripoli on November 7, 2026, with Djibouti's Foreign Minister Abdoulkader Houssein Omar participating in the meeting. He called for a new dynamic to be injected into the regional organization. The meeting was attended by a high-level representation of member states, including ministers from Egypt, Tunisia, Chad, and Somalia, among others. The Libyan Prime Minister, Abdulhamid Aldabaiba, also graced the occasion.
In his intervention, Abdoulkader Houssein Omar expressed Djibouti's recognition of the Libyan authorities for hosting the session and commended Libya's efforts to revitalize CEN-SAD. He emphasized the need to strengthen the organization's institutions, improve their functioning, and enhance the technical capacities of the executive secretariat. Omar also stressed the importance of moving beyond policy declarations to concrete programs with clear priorities and rigorous monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
The Djiboutian Foreign Minister highlighted the challenges facing the Sahélo-Saharan region, including terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organized crime, climate change, desertification, and food insecurity. He advocated for a concerted and sustainable response to these challenges, emphasizing the need for a global approach that integrates security and development. This approach should address the root causes of these challenges, including economic, social, and environmental fragilities.
Omar also underscored the importance of synergy between CEN-SAD, the African Union, and other regional organizations to ensure complementarity of initiatives and coordination of responses to common security, stability, and development challenges. Djibouti reaffirmed its commitment to CEN-SAD's objectives and its willingness to contribute actively to the organization's revival and strengthening of Sahélo-Saharan integration.
The 22nd session discussed several key issues, including the relocation of CEN-SAD's executive secretariat to Libya, the appointment of an interim executive secretary for a transitional period not exceeding six months, and the examination of the organization's financial situation. These issues are crucial to the organization's revitalization, and their resolution will enable CEN-SAD to restart its activities and implement its programs effectively.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Abdoulkader Houssein Omar met with Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Aldabaiba to discuss cooperation between Djibouti and Libya and the prospects for deepening their relations. The two leaders agreed on the need to relaunch and revitalize CEN-SAD, strengthen its institutions, and enhance its role in regional cooperation and integration.
The CEN-SAD meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to regional integration and cooperation. Djibouti's advocacy for a stronger, more effective CEN-SAD reflects its dedication to addressing the complex challenges facing the Sahélo-Saharan region. The organization's revitalization is seen as essential to promoting solidarity, stability, and development in the region.
Key points
- Djibouti's Foreign Minister Abdoulkader Houssein Omar called for a stronger regional integration and a more effective CEN-SAD to address the challenges facing the Sahélo-Saharan region.
