Article 3 Mandate

on the basis of the Strategic Framework and its Regional Action Plan, engage with all relevant stakeholders in the region, governments, regional authorities, international and regional organisations, civil society 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;

engage with major actors outside the region with influence within the Horn of Africa, in the interests of tackling issues of broader regional stability, including with regard to the Red Sea, to the Western Indian Ocean and to financing of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Those contacts shall include bilateral engagement with the United States of America, the countries of the Gulf, Egypt, Turkey and China, regional contacts with the Gulf Cooperation Council, and interaction with other relevant actors as they emerge;

represent the Union in relevant international fora, as appropriate, and ensure visibility for the Union's support to crisis management, as well as conflict resolution and prevention;

encourage and support effective political and security cooperation and economic integration in the region through the Union's partnership with the African Union (AU) and regional organisations, in particular IGAD; contribute to the follow-up of EU/IGAD ministerial meetings and informal EU ministerial meetings with member countries of IGAD;

follow political developments in the region and contribute to the development of the Union's policy towards the region, with a view to formulating concrete proposals for action, including in relation to Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, the Djibouti-Eritrea border dispute, the Ethiopia-Eritrea border dispute, implementation of the Algiers Agreement, the Nile dispute, and other concerns in the region that impact on its security, stability and prosperity;

with regard to Somalia, and working in close coordination with the Head of the Union Delegation to Somalia and relevant regional and international partners, including the UN Secretary-General Special Representative for Somalia, the AU and IGAD, continue to contribute actively to actions and initiatives leading to further stabilisation for Somalia, in particular the completion of the federal state-formation process and the implementation of the Transition Plan to usher in the gradual transition and transfer of responsibilities from AMISOM to the Somali government and institutions. In addition, the EUSR shall continue to support the development of the security sector in Somalia, including through the Union's Common Security and Defence Policy missions deployed in the region, and to work towards enhanced coordination of international donors to support security sector in Somalia, in close consultation with Member States;

with regard to Sudan, and working in close cooperation with the Heads of the Union Delegations in Khartoum and to the AU in Addis Ababa, contribute to the coherence and effectiveness of the Union's policy towards Sudan and support political solutions to the situation in Darfur, Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, and national reconciliation through a holistic political process including towards planned elections in 2020; in that regard, the EUSR shall contribute to a coherent international approach with the AU and in particular the AU High Level Implementation Panel for Sudan and South Sudan, the UN and other leading regional and international stakeholders, keeping in mind also the need to support the peaceful coexistence of Sudan and South Sudan, in particular through the implementation of the Addis Agreements and resolution of the outstanding issues following the Comprehensive Peace Agreement;

with regard to South Sudan, building on the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan and the High Level Revitalization Forum process, continue to engage at a regional level, particularly with the UN, the AU, IGAD, South Sudan's neighbours and other leading international partners, to ensure the prevention of further conflict and implementation of any credible agreement; in that regard the EUSR shall work in close cooperation with the Heads of the Union Delegations in Juba and to the AU in Addis Ababa;

examine trans-boundary challenges, in particular on migration and, upon request, engage in dialogues on migration with relevant stakeholders and contribute more generally to the Union's policy on migration and refugees with respect to the region, in line with the Union's political priorities, in order to increase cooperation, including on return and readmission;

follow closely other trans-boundary challenges affecting the Horn of Africa, with a focus on radicalisation and terrorism, but looking also at maritime security and piracy, organised crime, smuggling and trafficking of weapons, wildlife products, drugs and other contraband, and any political and security consequences of humanitarian crises;

promote humanitarian access throughout the region;

contribute to the implementation of Council Decision 2011/168/CFSP^f1 and the Union's human rights policy, in cooperation with the EUSR for Human Rights, including the EU Guidelines on human rights, in particular the EU Guidelines on children and armed conflict as well as the EU Guidelines on violence against women and girls and combating all forms of discrimination against them, and the Union's policy regarding UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000), including by monitoring and reporting on developments as well as formulating recommendations in this regard.

advise and report on the definition of Union positions in international fora, as appropriate, in order to promote proactively the Union's comprehensive policy approach towards the Horn of Africa;

maintain an overview of all activities of the Union.