A high-level delegation from the city of Le Bugue, France, led by Mayor Léonidas Serge, conducted a working visit to Ethiopia beginning on Tuesday (October 14) at the invitation of the Dire Dawa City Administration.
The visit followed the sister city cooperation agreement signed between Dire Dawa and Le Bugue on July 13, 2025, in Le Bugue, France. The agreement established a three-year partnership aimed at promoting collaboration in key sectors such as education, tourism, culture, sustainable urban development, and people-to-people exchange.
Upon arrival at Dire Dawa International Airport, the delegation was warmly welcomed by Mayor Kedir Juhar and senior city officials. During their stay, the delegation held extensive discussions with Harbi Buh, Deputy Mayor of Dire Dawa, on the city’s development trajectory, administrative structure, and socioeconomic initiatives. The Deputy Mayor highlighted the long-standing cultural and educational ties between Ethiopia and France, recalling the establishment of the Alliance Ethio-Française School in Dire Dawa in 1908, which has played a key role in promoting the French language and culture.
Mayor Léonidas Serge expressed his appreciation for the warm hospitality extended to his delegation and reaffirmed Le Bugue’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Dire Dawa. He emphasized the importance of developing practical partnerships in tourism, cultural exchange, and education, underscoring Le Bugue’s readiness to facilitate broader engagement and introduce Dire Dawa’s heritage and potential to the French public.
The delegation visited major development sites, including the Dire Dawa Free Trade Zone, the Dry Port, the new Underground Subway Station, the Dire Dawa Subway Company in Dewelle, the Dire Dawa Convention Center, and the Dire Dawa International Stadium. They also toured local schools such as Notre-Dame, Mariam Sefer, and Legahare. The delegation further visited the Dire Dawa Corridor Development Project, where they were briefed on ongoing progress covering more than 6.2 kilometers of urban infrastructure and economic development works. As part of the city’s Green Initiative, the delegation, together with Deputy Mayor Harbi Buh, participated in a symbolic tree-planting ceremony at Artist Ali Birra Park.
Following the conclusion of their engagements in Dire Dawa, the delegation proceeded to Addis Ababa, where they were officially received in collaboration with the Addis Ababa City Administration. During their stay in the capital, they visited key urban revitalization projects along riverbanks and corridors, as well as the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum and the National Palace Museum.
The visit represents an important step in translating diplomatic friendship into tangible, community-centered cooperation. It serves as a model of how local partnerships can complement and strengthen national relations, contributing to the broader goal of fostering shared prosperity, cultural harmony, and enduring friendship between Ethiopia and France.