The Intergovernmental Authority on Development, IGAD, is a mandated bloc of eight eastern African countries that deal with peace and security issues. The main focus of the Peace and Security Division is conflict prevention, management and resolution, prevention and management of trans-national security threats, governance, democracy, rule of law and human rights, post conflict reconstruction, development, and humanitarian affairs. For analysis on the bloc's mandate, VOA’s Vincent Makori spoke to Macharia Munene, professor of history and international relations at United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya.