NEWS IN A Week in the Horn 28.08.2026
Ethiopia
President Taye Atske Selassie bid farewell to the outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Ethiopia, Kang Jung on Wednesday (August 26). The President expressed appreciation for his contribution to the longstanding Ethiopia-Korea relations.
The Ethiopian National Dialogue Conference was officially concluded on Saturday (August 22), with a closing ceremony held at the Addis International Convention Center. The ceremony marked the conclusion of a 46-day process that brought together Ethiopians from different parts of the country and the diaspora to deliberate on major political, social and national issues. (See article)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a consultative forum on August 17 and 18. The consultative forum titled “Ethiopia and the interconnected geoeconomic trends” aims at leveraging Ethiopians’ intellectual capital to conceptualize contemporary international relations and deliberate on operationalizations in pursuit of Ethiopia’s national interests, attracting researchers from several think-tanks and universities. (See article)
State Minister Ambassador Hadera Abera met with Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Abdullah Hassan A. Alzahrani, at his office on Monday (August 24) to discuss further strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
On Wednesday (August 26), Ambassador Hadera received the newly appointed UAE Ambassador to Ethiopia, Abdalla Hassan Obaid Hassan AlShamsi. Ambassador Hadera underscored Ethiopia’s commitment to strengthening the longstanding partnership, with emphasis on trade, investment, and people-to-people relations, and encouraged increased UAE investment in priority sectors.
On the same day, Ambassador Hadera met with Kirsty McNeill, UK Minister of State for International Development, for an exchange on the longstanding Ethiopia–UK partnership.
The State Minister also met on Thursday (August 27), with UN Special Representative for South Sudan and Head of UNMISS Anita Kiki Gbeho. They exchanged views on the evolving situation in South Sudan and the broader region.
State Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye received the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand Sihasak Phuangketkeow upon his arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport on Friday (August 28) for an official visit to Ethiopia.
Somalia
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met Kirsty McNeill, UK Minister of State for International Development, at Villa Somalia on Wednesday (August 26) to discuss opportunities to strengthen the UK-Somalia partnership.
Africa and the African Union
President Taye Atske Selassie, joined the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, at the 76th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa (RC76) in Addis Ababa on Tuesday (August 24). Minister of Health Mekdes Daba has been elected Chairperson of the 76th Session of WHO RC76.
Chairperson Youssouf on Wednesday (August 26) received the Executive Secretary of Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Workneh Gebeyehu, at AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa for their regular consultations on regional peace, security and development.