NEWS IN A Week in the Horn 08.08.2025
Ethiopia
President Taye Atske Selassie on Tuesday (August 5) bade farewell to outgoing German Ambassador Jens Hanefeld and Egyptian Ambassador Mohamed Omar Gad, thanking them for strengthening ties with Ethiopia.
Ethiopia and China launched the 2025 Chinese Medical Volunteers’ African Charity Mission on Thursday (August 7) at Silk Road General Hospital in Addis Ababa. The program includes major surgeries, school health screenings, and cervical cancer checks, with a focus on skills transfer. President Taye, Health Minister Mekdes Daba, and Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Chen Hai attended the launch.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed officially launched this year’s one-day tree planting campaign, with a target of planting 700 million saplings, on Thursday (July 31) at Abajifar Palace in Jimma. Held under the theme “Renewal Through Planting,” the campaign mobilized millions of Ethiopians across the country in a historic effort to set a global record. (See article)
Prime Minister Abiy on Sunday (August 3) inaugurated the newly completed Entoto to Arat Kilo Plaza corridor in Addis Ababa. The development includes modern walkways, bicycle lanes, improved lighting, upgraded shops in the Shiro Meda market, and new public spaces such as playgrounds and a soccer field.
on Friday (August 1), the Premier appointed Addisu Arega as Ethiopia’s new Minister of Agriculture. Addisu previously served as the Oromia Regional State Rural Cluster Coordinator with the rank of Deputy Chief Administrator.
Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos paid a working visit to the Republic of Belarus on Wednesday (July 29) and met with the Belarusian President Aleksander Lukashenko and Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov. (See article)
The Ethiopian delegation, led by Alemu Sime, Minister of Transport and Logistics, took part in the Third United Nations Landlocked Developing Countries Conference (LLDC3) held from August 5-8 in Awaza, Turkmenistan. The Conference provided an opportunity to explore meaningful partnerships to implement the Awaza Programme of Action. (See article)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with its affiliated institutions, launched the 2017 E.C. Annual Green Legacy Planting Program and Institutional Summer Volunteering Service in Dire Dawa City, aiming to reaffirm national commitment to environmental sustainability and promote inclusive development. The Green Legacy planting program officially commenced on Saturday (August 2), at the Dire Dawa Free Trade Zone, following the delegation’s arrival the previous evening via the Ethio-Djibouti Railway. (See article)
State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Hadera Abera, received Myanmar’s first resident Ambassador to Ethiopia, Aung Min Oo, at his office on Thursday (August 7). The two sides discussed matters of mutual interest and ways to boost bilateral ties.
The United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktaking Moment, held in Addis Ababa from July 27 to 29, saw a large turnout of stakeholders in the global food value chain, including governments, civil society, the private sector, and international organizations. Member States presented their national pathways for achieving food security and building resilient food systems. Businesses highlighted the transformative policy measures needed to expand agricultural investment and enhance the capacity of small and medium enterprises. The role of youth as key drivers of agrifood systems transformation was also widely discussed. (See article)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, in a Press Statement released on Monday (August 4), welcomed the appointment of Girma Amente as the African Union’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and World Trade Organization in Geneva.
On another Press Statement released on Friday (August 8), the Ministry also expressed its deep sorrow over the devastating helicopter crash in Ghana’s Ashanti region that claimed the lives of several government officials, reaffirming its solidarity with the people and Government of the Republic of Ghana during this difficult period of mourning.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs convened a meeting on Wednesday (August 6) to strengthen the Ethiopian National Committee on International Humanitarian Law. Chaired by Ambassador Reta Alemu, Director General of International Legal Affairs, the session brought together representatives from key institutions, including the Ministries of Defense, Peace, and Justice; the Federal Police and Courts; the Ministry of Health; and the Ethiopian Red Cross Society.
Kenya
Ambassador Hadera Abera, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, met with George M. Orina, Kenya’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, on Thursday (August 7). During the meeting, the two sides explored ways to enhance bilateral ties, emphasizing deeper cooperation, increased trade, improved infrastructure connectivity, strong people-to-people ties and the promotion of regional peace and stability.
Ethiopia and Kenya held an investment and trade forum on Wednesday (August 6) in Nairobi, organized by the Ethiopian Embassy and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Over 150 participants explored business opportunities in sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, ICT, and energy.
Somalia
On Tuesday (August 5), Ambassador Suleiman Dedefo, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Somalia, presented his credentials to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The president appreciated Ethiopia for its support in Somalia’s peace-building efforts and highlighted the need for joint commissions to advance cooperation. Ambassador Suleiman reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic and economic ties and emphasized coordinated efforts to tackle regional security challenges.
Africa and the African Union
Ethiopia attended the third Horn of Africa Peace and Development Conference that took place in Uganda, Kampala on Tuesday (July 29). The third edition of the conference discussed regional peace, development, and governance in an atmosphere of openness, unity, solidarity, and mutual respect. High-level government officials from Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, and China, and representatives from regional organizations, including IGAD secretariat, East African Community, and International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, attended the conference. (See article)
The Government of Ethiopia on Thursday (August 7) held a national media briefing in preparation for the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2), set to take place in Addis Ababa from September 8–10, 2025. The summit, co-hosted with the African Union, will focus on “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing Africa’s Resilient and Green Development” and is anchored on showcasing Africa-led solutions and unlocking climate finance.
Note: For detailed reports, please check out the rest of this week’s news published in separate posts