NEWS IN A Week in the Horn 26.12.2025
Ethiopia
Ethiopia has officially launched Digital Ethiopia 2030, a new five-year strategy aimed at ensuring sustainable digital transformation across all sectors of the economy. The Digital Ethiopia 2030 strategy launching ceremony was held on Saturday (December 20), with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and other high-ranking officials in attendance. (See article)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with the Ethiopian Embassy in Kenya and the Dire Dawa City Administration, has inaugurated and handed over 20 newly built houses to the elderly and vulnerable residents under the Summer Volunteer Service Program on Friday ( December 26). Speaking at the ceremony, Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos highlighted the role of volunteerism in strengthening social cohesion and fostering multinational unity, while reaffirming Ethiopia’s commitment to people-centered development and the Green Legacy Initiative.
Ethiopia and the Netherlands have taken a major step to deepen their partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand cooperation across multiple areas. The agreement followed talks between Foreign Minister Gedion and Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Aukje de Vries on Friday (December 19).
Ethiopia and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa formalized a partnership on Friday (December 19), with Foreign Minister Gedion and UNECA Executive Secretary Claver Gatete signing an agreement to support the organization and delivery of COP32, following earlier high-level discussions between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg.
The Ethiopian Embassy in Tokyo, in collaboration with JOGMEC, JETRO, and other Japanese partners, hosted the Ethio-Japan Investment Forum on Thursday (December 18). The event drew approximately 80 participants from Japan’s mining and energy industries. (See article)
Djibouti
President Ismail Omar Guelleh received Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Monday (December 22) during an official visit focused on strengthening bilateral relations between Djibouti and Italy.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Hadera Abera, on Thursday (December 25) received at his office Djiboutian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Abdi Mahamoud Eybe. During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitments to further bilateral cooperation and continue close coordination on peace, security and development in the Horn.
Kenya
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and President William Ruto reaffirmed Ethiopia–Kenya relations during a one-day working visit by the President of Kenya held in Addis Ababa on Tuesday (December 23), with discussions covering regional stability and cooperation in the Horn of Africa.
Somalia
An Ethiopian delegation led by Major General Teshome Gemechu, Director-General of International Relations and Military Cooperation of the Ministry of Defense, took part in the East African Standby Force (EASF) Council of Ministers of Defense and Security meeting in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Thursday(December 18). (See article)
Sudan
Sudan’s Sovereign Council chairman, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, held talks on Thursday (December 25) with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara to discuss bilateral and regional matters of mutual interest.
Africa and the African Union
The Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Selma Malika Haddadi, delivered an address at the Ad Hoc Summit of Heads of State and Government hosted by Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Sunday (December 22), focusing on the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo and the region.