Chapter four theorises IGAD not as a conventional institution defined by formalised rules and structures, but as a fluid platform for diplomatic encounters, elite negotiations, and peace diplomacy. Drawing from diplomatic theory and the concept of platformisation, the chapter argues that IGAD’s value lies less in its institutional robustness and more in its capacity to convene, adapt, and mediate amidst complexity. The chapter begins by addressing critiques that depict IGAD as weak or dysfunctional, particularly in comparison to more institutionalised bodies like the EU. It challenges these critiques by advancing the notion of IGAD as a regional platform; a deliberately open-ended and flexible space where regional actors can contest, negotiate, and forge consensus. This understanding reframes IGAD’s institutional informality not as a failure, but as a context-responsive adaptation to the political volatility of the Horn of Africa (HoA). The idea of platformisation is used to capture the evolving and situational character of IGAD’s peace-making efforts. The chapter highlights how IGAD operates through informal channels, backroom diplomacy, elite summits, and personalised negotiations, often in the absence of clear legal frameworks or enforcement mechanisms. Yet it is precisely this adaptability that allows IGAD to function in high-stakes scenarios where rigid institutional approaches would falter. Drawing comparisons with other regional integration schemes like ASEAN, the chapter argues that platformisation is a defining feature of African regionalism, reflecting the continent’s postcolonial political culture and pragmatism. Rather than aspiring to bureaucratic perfection, IGAD embodies a hybrid governance model rooted in consensus-building and elite-led dialogue. Ultimately, the chapter proposes that IGAD’s strength lies in its role as a relational space; one where divergent interests, identities, and ideologies are managed through ongoing negotiation rather than institutional finality. This reconceptualisation opens new avenues for understanding peace-making in non-Western regional contexts.