C. Eritrea
On May 16, the Eritrean Ministry of Energy and Mines issued Proclamation 165, which authorizes the Eritrean Government to acquire, without cost to itself, a participation interest of up to 10 percent of any mining investment. Proclamation 165 amends Proclamation 68 of 1995, which only allowed the Government thirty percent equity participation, including a ten percent or less participation interest.
In July, Eritrea sought to reactivate its membership in the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), which it had suspended in 2007 after member states voted to support Ethiopia's intervention in the conflict in Somalia. After initially welcoming Eritrea's request, in August, IGAD Executive Secretary Mahmoud Maalim stated that IGAD member states were still considering Eritrea's membership.
