(a)

the stabilisation of the Horn of Africa, with a focus on broader regional dynamics, including at country level, when relevant for the stability of the region;

(b)

the political transitions e.g. in Ethiopia and Sudan, peace and state-building processes in Somalia and South Sudan as well as the prevention and early warning of potential conflicts between or within countries in the region, including transboundary disputes, and contribution to their mediation and resolution;

(c)

the political, security, sustainable economic regional cooperation and joint multilateral action, in particular with the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD);

(d)

a negotiated solution on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the promotion of transboundary cooperation in the whole Nile Basin;

(e)

the security, stability and cooperation around the Red Sea.

(a)

actively contribute to the implementation of the Strategy and enhance the overall coherence and effectiveness of Union activities with a view to further deepening and strengthening the Union’s relationship and partnership with the Horn of Africa, its countries and organisations;

(b)

engage with all relevant stakeholders in the region, national governmental and non-governmental actors, regional authorities, international and regional organisations, civil society, youth, private sector and diasporas, with a view to furthering the Union’s objectives, and contribute to a better understanding of the role of the Union in the region. In this context, the EUSR shall regularly travel to all the countries in the region;

(c)

engage with relevant actors outside the region, in the interest of tackling issues of broader regional stability, including the GERD, the Red Sea, the Western Indian Ocean and the financing of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and subsequent AU-led security engagement. Contacts shall include bilateral engagement with, as appropriate, the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the countries of the Gulf, Egypt, regional contacts with the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Council of Arab and African States on the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and other relevant international actors;

(d)

represent and promote the interests and visibility of the Union in relevant regional and international fora;

(e)

encourage and support effective political and security cooperation and sustainable economic integration in the region through the EU’s partnership with the AU and regional organisations, in particular IGAD. The EUSR shall initiate/steer, support and promote conflict resolution mechanisms, in particular Africa-owned and also Middle Eastern/North African ones, with a view to furthering effective prevention, de-escalation and peaceful settlement of disputes and for reconciliation by encouraging dialogue, negotiation and mediation;

(f)

follow political and security developments in the region and contribute to the development of the Union’s policy towards the region, with a view to advising on and formulating concrete proposals for action, including in relation to Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, the Sudan-Ethiopia border dispute, the Somalia-Kenya tensions, Kenya’s regional role, the Nile dispute, the security around the Red Sea, promoting regional integration and other concerns in the region that impact on its security, stability and peaceful and inclusive development. The EUSR shall also contribute to the Union early response and strategic and long-term vision of the Union in the Horn of Africa;

(g)

continue to mobilise regional and international support for political transitions e.g. in Ethiopia and Sudan in close cooperation with the Heads of Union delegations and Member States’ missions. The EUSR shall contribute to supporting nation-wide peace and reconciliation efforts based on inclusive and transparent dialogue. The EUSR shall pursue efforts addressing the regional consequences of the multiple crises in Ethiopia, including in Tigray, notably by encouraging a peaceful resolution of the border tensions with Sudan. With regard to Sudan, the EUSR’s efforts shall be focused also on supporting the implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement and the negotiations and implementation of subsequent agreements;

(h)

continue to encourage stronger support from regional and international stakeholders, to critical peace and state building processes in Somalia and South Sudan. As a complement to the efforts of the Head of the Union delegation and Member States, the EUSR shall support Union’s State-building efforts in Somalia, including the development of the security sector. In this regard, the EUSR shall feed into the reflexions related to the use of the European Peace Facility, and to the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions and operations in the region. With regard to South Sudan, in close cooperation with the Head of the Union delegation, the EUSR shall continue to work closely with the UN, IGAD, AU and other relevant international partners to uphold their support to peace efforts and the overall stabilisation of the country;

(i)

engage with Eritrea, insisting on a constructive agenda at regional level, including on the withdrawal of Eritrean troops from Ethiopia;

(j)

continue to represent the Union in its capacity of observer to the AU-led talks on the GERD. Working in close coordination with the Heads of Union delegations and the Member States’ missions to Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, the EUSR shall contribute to support dialogue as well as cooperation between the parties building trust and developing confidence-building measures which could help incentivize a resolution of the GERD dispute. More broadly, the EUSR shall contribute to Union’s effort to step up engagement in water diplomacy in the whole Nile Basin;

(k)

encourage cooperation, dialogue and peaceful settlement of disputes around the Red Sea and build privileged relations with regionally-owned initiatives. In close coordination with Union delegations and Member States’ missions in the region, the EUSR shall contribute to develop an integrated approach to the wider Red Sea region and help to build an inclusive agenda of cooperation on the Red Sea among relevant regional and international actors;

(l)

follow closely and promote cooperation to address cross-border challenges affecting the Horn of Africa, notably on radicalisation and terrorism, maritime security and piracy, border disputes, all forms of trafficking, including trafficking in human beings, illicit financial flows, and any political and security consequences of humanitarian crises;

(m)

promote humanitarian access and respect of IHL and the protection of civilians;

(n)

contribute, in cooperation with the EUSR for Human Rights, to the promotion of human rights through the implementation of Council Decision 2011/168/CFSP (4) and the Union’s human rights policy, including the Union Guidelines on human rights, in particular the Union Guidelines on children and armed conflict as well as on violence against women and girls and combating all forms of discrimination against them, and the Union’s policy regarding UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions on Women, Peace and Security as well as UNSCR 2250 (2015) on Youth, Peace and Security. This shall include exchanges with the International Criminal Court, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and with human rights defenders;

(o)

contribute to addressing the growing impact of climate change on peace and security. This shall include ensuring that prevention and peacebuilding activities take account of climate and environmental related security risks.

(a)

advise and report on the formulation of Union positions in regional and international fora, as appropriate, in order to proactively promote action based on partnership and mutual accountability and strengthen the Union’s integrated approach towards the Horn of Africa;

(b)

contribute to maintaining an overview of all Union activities and cooperate and coordinate closely with relevant Union delegations and Member States.