Ethiopian-born Cherinet Hariffo was appointed the first Intergovernmental Authority on Development's (IGAD) permanent observer to the United Nations, and, at the same time, became the youngest to hold the relevant position.
"Today March 7, 2025, as I present my credentials as first ever and the youngest permanent observer of IGAD Secretariat at the United Nations, I am reminded of the journey that brought me here. From being displaced as a child to standing among senior diplomats, this is not what I could have imagined seven years ago as a refugee. But here we are," said Hariffo, who is 23, after presenting his credentials to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
This milestone strengthens IGAD's multilateral engagement, aiming to deepen collaboration on peace, security, resilience, and regional integration, the authority said in a statement, adding that the accreditation enables enhanced advocacy for the IGAD region's priorities and coordinated action on global and regional challenges through closer ties with the UN system.