Cherinet Hariffo

Permanent Representative of IGAD to the United Nations 🇺🇳 in New York | Guided by Safuu Philosophy

[Cherinet Hariffo @cherinet_]

Today march 7th 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.

Especial thank you to He: my mentor @DrWorkneh Gebeyehu for giving me the opportunity to shine And be of service to the people of my region and my organization.

#DiscoverIGAD, #Regionalpeace #Multilateralism @DrWorkneh @IGADsecretariat @MAWareSO @IGAD_CPAC @UN @UNmigration @Refugees @SandokanDebebe @AbiyAhmedAli @TakeleUma

[Cherinet Hariffo @cherinet_]

On this United Nations Day, it is worth acknowledging a basic reality: the UN is needed today more than ever, even as it struggles through one of the most difficult periods in its history. Operational bottlenecks, funding shortages, and persistent political gridlock have left the organization’s core machinery strained and increasingly contested.

Yet, walking away from international cooperation is not a viable strategy. Restoring the #UN’s effectiveness requires member states to move past entrenched positions and rebuild a working consensus. The goal should not be to reinvent the institution, but to bring it back to its original purpose serving as a functional platform for reasoned diplomacy and pragmatic problem-solving.

At the same time, any discussion about the UN’s credibility must address its structural representation. Africa’s growing presence on the world stage is an encouraging development, but the continent remains noticeably absent from key decision-making centers like the Security Council. An international body cannot claim to represent the world fairly while continuing to limit the authority of a continent of 1.4 billion people. The UN ought to serve as a practical reminder that global institutions only work when member states demonstrate genuine political compromise and ensure everyone has an equal seat at the table.

[Cherinet Hariffo @cherinet_]

Congratulations to you Ms. Vanessa Nakate on your appointment as the AU chairperson special envoy on youth. You truly deserve this and may your time as youth envoy bring some fruits.

@ymahmoudali @_AfricanUnion @nakate_vanessa

[African Union @_AfricanUnion]

Chairperson of the AU Commission Appoints Vanessa Nakate of Uganda as Special Envoy for Youth.

The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, is pleased to announce the appointment of Vanessa Nakate of Uganda as his Special Envoy for Youth.

The Chairperson @ymahmoudali congratulates Ms. Nakate on her appointment and commends her outstanding contributions to climate justice, environmental advocacy and youth mobilisation. Her work in amplifying the voices of young people, particularly from Africa and the Global South, has helped elevate the urgency of climate action and underscored the importance of ensuring that young people are meaningfully involved in decisions affecting their present and future.

Commenting on the appointment, the Chairperson stated: “Africa’s youth are not merely the leaders of tomorrow; they are indispensable partners in shaping the continent’s future today. Vanessa Nakate’s record of advocacy for climate justice and her commitment to amplifying young people’s voices make her well placed to help strengthen the African Union’s engagement with youth across the continent.”

The Chairperson also expressed his appreciation to the AU selection panel for its diligence, professionalism and thorough due diligence throughout the selection process. He noted that a rigorous and transparent selection process is essential to identifying individuals with the experience, integrity and commitment needed to advance the Union’s priorities.

The Chairperson looks forward to working closely with Ms. Nakate to deepen the African Union’s engagement with young people and ensure that their perspectives and aspirations inform the Union’s policies and programmes. “We must continue to create meaningful opportunities for young Africans to participate in decision-making, contribute to solutions and shape the policies that affect their lives. I look forward to working with Ms. Nakate to further strengthen this partnership between the African Union and the continent’s youth,” he added.

The appointment reaffirms the AU's commitment to placing young people at the centre of Africa’s development and recognising them as essential partners in advancing the continent’s aspirations for peace, integration, prosperity and sustainable development. It also highlights the importance of youth leadership in addressing the climate crisis and promoting a more just and sustainable future for Africa.

Read @ https://t.co/tSdCiKWfyD

[Cherinet Hariffo @cherinet_]

This is unacceptable, We must not let Sudan become worse than what it is now. The Quad and the quintet must step up, stand in unity and demand an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian truce. This is a stain on our collective history. We are failing the people of Sudan!

[Al Jazeera English @AJEnglish]

A drone strike near a market in Abyei has killed at least 150 people.

Fighting between Sudan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has intensified in recent days, as Khartoum accuses the RSF of hiding in the disputed region near South Sudan.

[Cherinet Hariffo @cherinet_]

I will tell you this clearly: the people appointed by PM @AbiyAhmedAli today are more capable of trying to adress the underlining challenge that existed for years: their knowledge, expertise and closeness to the people will speed up rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction: it will also transition Tigray into the stability it enjoyed for decades before the conflict in 2020. This is a different era.

[Cherinet Hariffo @cherinet_]

@TeklehaymanotG Mr Teklay am sorry but you are missing something: Tigray then and Tigray now is totally different! I’m sure you know the fact that the people of Tigray powered TPLF & now the party has lost the peoples trust. So make you conclusion!

[Cherinet Hariffo @cherinet_]

@GiGi_Faiza Thank you sis

[Cherinet Hariffo @cherinet_]

@VaticanNews My prayers are with the pope!

[Cherinet Hariffo @cherinet_]

@Abdrezak1584333 @YodaheZemichael Congratulations to my dear friend @YodaheZemichael

[Cherinet Hariffo @cherinet_]

@DrWorkneh ብከማኻ ዝበለ ሰብ ክግምገም ኣይክእልን፤ ንሱ ሰብ ሞራልን ስነ-ምግባርን እዩ። ናቱ ጻዕሪ እንተ ዘይነብር፡ ስምምዕ ፕሪቶሪያ ሎሚ ክውን ምኾነ ኣይምነበረን፤ እዚ ንስኻ ዘይትፈልጦ ነገር እዩ። ንሕና ተጋሩ ድሕሪ መጋረጃ እንታይ ይግበር ከም ዘሎ ዘይምርኣይ ዝንባሌ ኣሎና። ብዙሕ ካብ ምባል ክቆጠብ፡ ስሙ ካብ ኣፍካ ኣውፅኦ! የቐንየለይ!

[Cherinet Hariffo @cherinet_]

Today, more than ever, tensions are rising across the world. We are witnessing a tectonic shift in respect for the rule of law. Multilateral institutions are under strain, and the work of making and sustaining peace is becoming increasingly difficult. The reason is clear: trust among us is eroding, and that erosion will only deepen instability. More than ever, international consensus is needed.

[Cherinet Hariffo @cherinet_]

@UNFPA @FP2030 @gatesfoundation Dear @dienekeita your leadership is already baring fruit! Congratulations

[Cherinet Hariffo @cherinet_]

Warm farewell to my dear colleague H.E. Amb Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohamed Alwasil Permanent Rep of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN ) to the United Nations: as you completes your-tenure. Thank you for your leadership, dedicated diplomacy, and strong spirit of partnership with IGAD. Wishing you all the best in your next chapter!

[Cherinet Hariffo @cherinet_]

@Gamalbrb My condolences to you and your family my big brother! May Allah Grant Him Janatul Firdaws!

[Cherinet Hariffo @cherinet_]

Today at the IGAD mission I welcome H.E Mr Pekka Haavisto Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary General on Sudan 🇸🇩. We discussed the current challenges in the region and how to scale up our efforts in support of the Sudanese people and to achieve a unified goals alongside the Quads and Quintet members.

[Cherinet Hariffo @cherinet_]

On the margin of #UNGA81 session, I had pleasure of engaging briefly with African Union chairperson H.E @ymahmoudali . I shared my vision and interest for the position of the #African Union Youth envoy, to better transform the voice of young people across the African continent. #UNGA81

[Cherinet Hariffo @cherinet_]

@GetachewSS My brother create a content that will hit the nerve of habesha 😂😂😂😂

[Cherinet Hariffo @cherinet_]

@DrWorkneh Congratulations to you two 👏🏿

[Cherinet Hariffo @cherinet_]

Sat down for an interview with @WaihigaMwaura on BBC News on the most pressing issues of Sudan 🇸🇩 and the recent Historical visit by our Executive Secretary H.E Dr Workneh Gebeyehu and I reiterated our position that there is not military solution to the conflict in Sudan, we need a Sudanese led peace process and as a member of the Quintet group we emphasized that our position is clear: Sudanese led and Sudanese owned peace process is the way out of this Human misery.

#PeaceinSudan #Sudan

[Dr Workneh Gebeyehu @DrWorkneh]

Today, I convened the Midyear Senior Management Meeting in Addis Ababa to evaluate our performance, build on our successes, and address emerging challenges as we strengthen the institution’s delivery for its Member States and citizens. I am encouraged by the accomplishments shared, the constructive discussions aimed at tackling challenges, and our collective resolve to turn regional priorities into tangible, lasting results.