AU Summit

The 44th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union was conducted from Wednesday (February 14) to Thursday (February 15) under the theme “Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa.”

During the opening ceremony Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Ambassador Taye Atske-Selassie delivered his remarks along with Chair of the Executive Council and Comorian Foreign Minister Dhoihir Dhoulkamal, AUC Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat as well as the UNECA Executive Secretary, Claver Gatete.

Africa’s Leap Towards Sustainable Development: Education Reform and Regional Connectivity

The 37th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa saw Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed emphasize the need for education reform and regional connectivity as key factors for sustainable development. Leaders discussed unity and solidarity in the face of global challenges.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s critique of Africa’s education system was both poignant and pointed. He argued that the continent’s educational frameworks, largely mirroring Western models, fall short of celebrating local culture and indigenous knowledge. This, according to Ahmed, is a significant oversight, given that education is the bedrock of sustainable development.

The call for a seismic shift towards inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning resonated across the halls, echoing the summit’s theme and setting a bold agenda for the continent’s educational future. Beyond mere words, Ethiopia’s commitment to this vision has been evident over the last five years, with substantial investments aimed at transforming the educational landscape and fostering an environment where technology enhances learning opportunities for all.

Sideline Meetings:

PM Abiy hold talks with different Higher Officials.

Ahead of the opening session of the AU Summit, I met with President of the African Development Bank, President of Zimbabwe and President of South Sudan for discussions on various current issues of mutual interest.(@AbiyAhmedAli)

The meeting between PM Abiy and the AfDB chief aims to discuss the ongoing collaboration and efforts of the African Development Bank Group in Ethiopia.

Prime Minister Abiy Holds Talks with President Lula of Brazil

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva began his first official visit to Ethiopia on Friday, February 16. In the morning, he participated in a flower laying ceremony at a monument in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. He then held bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed confirmed that he would be coming to Brazil to participate as a guest at the G20 Summit, which will take place in November in Rio de Janeiro. Other issues discussed were the necessity of modernizing the global governance system and an invitation for Ethiopia to integrate the Global Alliance against Hunger, one of the focuses of the Brazilian Presidency at the head of the G20.

In the afternoon, President Lula was taking part in the event “Climate finance for agriculture and food security: Implementation of the Nairobi Declaration and results of COP28”.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited the recently inaugurated Adwa Victory Memorial Museum in Addis Ababa.

During his visit to the museum, President da Silva, along with First Lady Janja Lula Silva, laid a wreath at the Adwa Victory Monument. While visiting the memorial site, he was also accompanied by Mayor of Addis Ababa Ms. Adanech Abiebie and Minister of Finance Mr. Ahmed Shide.

PM Abiy Confers with Molly Phee, Ambassador Michael Hammer

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Wednesday (February 14) received at his office, US Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Mary Catherine “Molly” Phee and Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Ambassador Michael A. Hammer, and deliberated on regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest.

A High-Level Side Event on Digital Transformation at the Ongoing AU Summit

Ethiopia has organized a high-level side event at the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union to highlight the critical role of digital innovations in promoting inclusive and sustainable development in Africa.

President H.E. Sahile-Work Zewde delivered opening remarks at the event, which was held at the Adwa Science Museum under the theme, “Harnessing Digitization for Africa’s Transformation.”

She mentioned Ethiopia’s digital transformation in various sectors, including finance, telecommunications, and artificial intelligence, and advocated for a continental transformation in accordance with Agenda 2063.

The event drew together stakeholders and leaders from various African countries and financial sectors.

Ethiopia signed different Agreements:

South Africa become strategic partner

Ambassador Taye Atske- Selassie, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia and his South African counterpart, Naledi Pandor signed the agreement today in a ceremony held on the sideline of the 44th Executive Council meeting of the African Union.

The Strategic Partnership builds upon the strong friendship forged during the anti-apartheid struggle and is aimed at advancing political cooperation and expanding economic relations.

The agreement also aims to broaden and deepen the bilateral relationships in various fields.

Intensifying bilateral dialogue and cooperation in multilateral fora on matters of mutual interest is also one of the priority objectives of the agreement.

Angola and Ethiopia sign two cooperation agreements

On the sidelines of the 44th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union, Ambassador Taye Atske-Selassie, the FDRE Minister of Foreign Affairs, and his Angolan counterpart, Tete António held consultation regarding the bilateral relations of the two sisterly countries.

With the aim of enhancing the bilateral relations and operation in multilateral forums, the two ministers signed a General Cooperation Agreement, spanning various fields, and a Memorandum on Political Consultation, marking a milestone in bilateral relations between Ethiopia and Angola, per MFA Ethiopia.

Ethiopia, Rwanda ink MoUs

Ethiopia and Rwanda signed various MoUs today, after a three-day Joint Ministerial Commission Meeting that was held in Addis Ababa.

Ambassador Taye Atske Selassie, Minster of Foreign Affairs, in his remark said Ethiopia is committed to cooperation with all its neighbors and to the implementation of these agreements and decisions made by the Joint Ministerial Committee.

Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie said further strengthening of the Nile Basin Initiative and giving it a permanent structure and working together to that end is of vital interest.

He also said that the two countries are bound together with a shared interest in peace, security, and development.

The meeting was wound up with the signing of various MoUs between Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, Ambassador  Taye  Atske  Selassie  and  Minister  of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Rwanda, Vincent Biruta on areas ranging from political cooperation, trade, sport, disaster risk reduction and management, and investment.

The two ministers gave a joint press conference regarding the Joint Ministerial Commission Meeting and the said MoUs.