From 1 – 3 October 2025, COMESA working with partners held the 3rd Annual COMESA-IRSK Conference – an event meant to showcase the region’s growing influence in regional affairs. Under the theme “Enhancing COMESA’s Strategic Positioning and Resilience in the Evolving Global Order”, the Conference served as a precursor to the 24th COMESA Heads of State Summit and celebrated accomplishment, resilience and vision for the future.
Speakers acknowledged that the world has changed in recent years. From the COVID-19 pandemic to geopolitical conflicts and shifting trade alliances, Africa continues to face both daunting challenges and exciting opportunities. Thus, the Conference aimed to foster constructive dialogue around current policies, challenges and opportunities in order to provide participants with avenues for advancing their expertise and capacity.
Amb. Dr. Mohamed Kadah, COMESA Assistant Secretary General for Programmes, who participated at the conference, emphasised the need to accelerate regional growth and integration.
“COMESA is a transformative platform to boost trade in this evolving global order -which represents immense opportunities. The question to ponder on is – how can COMESA lead with a clearer vision, unity of purpose and vision?”
The Conference provided a platform where researchers, policymakers, diplomats and practitioners interrogated critical issues – from peace and security, governance and trade, to digital transformation, energy transition and regional integration. With thematic tracks spanning international relations, diplomacy and COMESA’s 30-year journey, issues such as good governance, various forms of diplomacy and the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite were explored through keynote speeches and panel discussions. A highlight was a roundtable on COMESA at 30, celebrating its decades long legacy and achievements in the economic and socio-political spheres.
Beyond intellectual exchange, the Conference embodied partnership and collaboration. The partnering organisations included – COMESA Secretariat, the International Relations Society of Kenya (IRSK), the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD), Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Acacia Dialogue Center, the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) and the Australian High Commission to Kenya – convened the Conference with the objective of facilitating knowledge exchange and collaborative projects in order to inspire forward-thinking solutions to the pressing challenges faced by the continent in contemporary times.
The IRSK Conference effectively reflected Africa’s ability to unite, learn, adapt and lead with confidence. It further affirmed the region’s unwavering commitment to shaping a resilient, integrated, prosperous and globally respected Africa.