NEWS IN A Week in the Horn 09.01.2026
Ethiopia
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Yi, visited Ethiopia from January 7 to 9. During his visit, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed received Minister Wang Yi and engaged in high-level discussions. The meetings provided an opportunity to review the longstanding bilateral relationship between the two countries, explore avenues for deepening cooperation, and discuss shared priorities across a wide range of areas. (See article)
Prime Minister Abiy visited the Ethio–Djibouti Railway Corporation on Sunday (January 4), reviewing national logistics and operational capacity, commending progress in in-house railway construction, and underscoring the importance of coordinated improvements across rail, dry ports, highways, and warehousing to support Ethiopia’s expanding development agenda.
The first bilateral Political Consultation between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Sultanate of Oman was held in Addis Ababa on Monday (January 5). The consultation took place at the State Minister level, with the Ethiopian delegation led by Ambassador Hadera Abera, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Omani delegation led by Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Harthy, Undersecretary for Political Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman. (See article)
Minister Gedion met on Tuesday (January 6) with UAE Minister of State Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, discussing ways to further strengthen the longstanding Ethiopia–UAE partnership, enhance bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and exchange views on regional peace and security issues of shared interest.
Following the meeting, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates said in a Joint Ministerial Statement issued on the same day that they reaffirmed their longstanding partnership, discussed regional peace and security developments, and agreed to deepen cooperation on climate action ahead of COP32 and the 2026 UN Water Conference.
Foreign Minister Gedion received on Monday (January 5) Oman’s Undersecretary for Political Affairs, Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Harthy, for talks on strengthening longstanding bilateral ties, expanding trade and investment, leveraging Ethiopia’s economic liberalization, enhancing cooperation in agriculture, manufacturing and tourism, promoting people-to-people relations, and exchanging views on regional peace and security issues of mutual interest.
Africa and the African Union
The 51st Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) opened on Wednesday (January 7), bringing together ambassadors of AU Member States accredited to the African Union to review key reports on reparations, water and sanitation, infrastructure financing, humanitarian affairs, free movement of people, health, and AU institutional governance ahead of deliberations by the Executive Council and the Assembly.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi held the 9th China–African Union Strategic Dialogue on Thursday (January 8) at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa and issued a joint communiqué.
The African Union Commission and the United Arab Emirates held high-level talks in Addis Ababa on Tuesday (January 6) between AUC Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and UAE Minister of State Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, reaffirming their partnership and agreeing to strengthen cooperation on peace and security.