The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) meeting in Nairobi kicked off on Tuesday, July 5.
Notably, the 39th Extraordinary IGAD Summit kicked off without the presence of three of the region’s presidents.
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was absent.
Others who failed to attend the session included Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir.
The Somali leader is currently away on a 2-day official visit to Turkey.
He sent outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Gulaid to represent him at the IGAD Assembly for Heads of State and Government.