Ayikelkel Birhanu

'Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die'
Joe Louis

[Abiy Ahmed Ali 🇪🇹 @AbiyAhmedAli]

It was a pleasure to meet with Mr. Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, and his delegation this evening, during which our discussions focused on bilateral relations and exploring new opportunities for cooperation.

[Hadera Abera Admassu @SMHaderaAbera]

Wed 24 Jan 2026 Addis Ababa
I had a constructive discussion with Mamadou Dian Balde, UNHCR Regional Bureau Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, on deepening our partnership to support refugees and host communities in Ethiopia.

Our exchange underscored the importance of sustainable refugee inclusion, enhanced international solidarity, predictable financing, and continued support for the implementation of the MAKATET ROADMAP, which seeks to transition from project-based interventions to integrated and sustainable approaches to refugee inclusion.

As one of Africa’s largest refugee-hosting countries, Ethiopia remains committed to upholding its open-door policy and advancing refugee protection and durable solutions. This commitment continues despite mounting challenges, including declining funding, climate-related shocks, increasing pressure on land and water resources, and the growing impact on the livelihoods of refugee-hosting communities.

[Ayikelkel Birhanu @ayikelkel]

At a London Climate Action Week event organized by Chatham House, Ethiopia’s FM Gedion Timothewos highlighted Ethiopia’s strong climate action record and outlined priorities for COP32. He stressed continuity—building on COP31 outcomes—guided by Medemer. #climate

[The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia 🇪🇹 @MFAEthiopia]

At a London Climate Action Week discussion, “Making the Case for COP in a Fractured Geopolitical Environment,” organized by Chatham House, the COP30 President joined Gedion Timothewos, Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and COP32 President-Designate, and Türkiye’s Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, representing COP31.

Gedion highlighted Ethiopia’s strong track record on climate action, emphasizing the policy interventions implemented over the past eight years. He noted that COP32’s priorities will include ensuring continuity by building on the leadership and outcomes of COP31, which will be co-hosted by Türkiye and Australia.

He underscored that this approach reflects the overarching principle of Medemer, working collaboratively with those who came before us, to strengthen collective action and help reignite hope in the multilateral process.

[Hadera Abera Admassu @SMHaderaAbera]

Wed June 17 2026, Addis Ababa
I held discussions with H.E. Chen Hai, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, on advancing Ethiopia–China relations and deepening bilateral cooperation. Our exchange focused on emerging technologies, particularly AI Governance, alongside Green Development and Climate priorities, including support for COP32 logistics. Ethiopia conveyed its appreciation for China’s continued partnership, and both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening practical cooperation in areas of shared interest.

[Abiy Ahmed Ali 🇪🇹 @AbiyAhmedAli]

The Green Legacy season is upon us. With more than eight billion seedlings raised and ready for planting, let us plant hope for a greener tomorrow.

[Nebiyu Tedla (Ambassador) 🇪🇹 @AmbNebiyuTedla]

🇪🇹☕ #Ethiopia’s coffee production has tripled in just 5 years — from 500,000 to over 1.5 million tonnes annually. Driven by replanting, better packaging, and the Green Legacy initiative, Ethiopia is now the world’s 3rd largest coffee producer after Brazil and Vietnam.

[Berhanu Tsegaye @BerhanuTsegaye]

I was Honored to have joined the Chairperson of the National Election Board of Ethiopia in briefing Ambassadors’ and, Heads of Regional and International Organizations in Addis Ababa on the upcoming 7th General Election of Ethiopia which will be held on the 1st of June, 2026.

During the briefing which was held today 25 May 2026, we updated the diplomatic community on the extensive preparations made to ensure a free and fair 7th General election—a historic milestone where, for the first time in our country's election history, over 50 million voters registered to cast their ballots.

ግንቦት 24 ቀን 2018 ዓ.ም. የሚካሄደውን ሰባተኛውን ጠቅላላ ምርጫ አስመልክቶ ከብሄራዊ ምርጫ ቦርድ ሊቀ-መንበር ጋር በመሆን ተቀማጭነታቸው አዲስ አበባ ለሆኑ አምባሳደሮች፣ የቀጠናዊ እና የአለምአቀፍ ድርጅቶች ኃላፊዎች ዛሬ ግንቦት 17 ቀን 2018 ዓ.ም. ገለፃ አድርገናል።

በገለፃው በአገራችን የምርጫ ታሪክ ለመጀመሪያ ጊዜ ከሀምሳ ሚል��ን በላይ መራጮች ድምጻቸውን ለመስጠት የተመዘገቡበት 7ኛው ጠቅላላ ምርጫ ነፃና ፍትሀዊ ሆኖ እንዲጠናቀቅ የተደረገውን መጠነ-ሠፊ ቅድመ ዝግጅት ለዲፕሎማቲክ ማህበረሰቡ አሳውቀናል።

[Hadera Abera Admassu @SMHaderaAbera]

Monday 25 May 2026, Addis Ababa.
Today, I had the privilege of speaking at the Africa Day celebration organized by the African Union in Addis Ababa.

Africa Day serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience of Pan-Africanism, the sacrifices made by our forebears, and our collective aspiration for a united, peaceful, and prosperous Africa.

As the continent continues to advance, we must deepen collaboration, empower our youth, modernize our economies, and pursue the ambitions of Agenda 2063.

In an era marked by global uncertainty, Africa holds immense potential to emerge as a driving force for sustainable development, renewable energy, and stronger international partnerships.

Together, let us strive to make Africa a true tree of life, bringing opportunity, dignity, and prosperity to all its people.

[The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia 🇪🇹 @MFAEthiopia]

Ethiopia and the United States held bilateral consultations in Washington, D.C. on May 11, 2026, aimed at further strengthening relations between the two countries.

The Ethiopian delegation, led by Foreign Minister @GHessebon and comprising Macroeconomic Advisor to the Prime Minister, Ambassador Girma Birru and Director General of National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), Ambassador Redwan Hussein, held discussions with their counterparts from the United States.

The bilateral structured dialogue between Ethiopia and the United States focused on three key areas: economic prosperity, trade and investment; defense and security cooperation; as well as the promotion of regional peace and stability.

The establishment of the bilateral consultation framework is expected to further strengthen and sustain the longstanding relationship between the two countries.

[Hadera Abera Admassu @SMHaderaAbera]

7 May 2026, Addis Ababa.
I held a productive discussion with Olivia Owen, the newly appointed Ambassador of New Zealand to Ethiopia, on strengthening bilateral ties and addressing regional issues of mutual interest.

Our conversation focused on expanding cooperation in agriculture, livestock development, climate resilience, trade, and investment, while reaffirming our shared commitment to advancing common priorities.

The longstanding relationship between Ethiopia and New Zealand continues to grow grounded in mutual respect, constructive engagement, and a common aspiration for deeper partnership and collaboration.

[The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia 🇪🇹 @MFAEthiopia]

The African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC), under the chairship of Ethiopia, conducted a field mission to South Sudan to assess firsthand the current situation in the country, ahead of their preparations for national elections.

During the visit, the Council engaged in consultations with senior officials of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) and signatories to the Peace Agreement. These included Vice Presidents Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior and Hussein Abdelbagi. The delegation also held discussions with Cabinet Affairs officials led by Minister Martin Lomuro, as well as Signatory parties to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

The delegation also made an assessment of the needs of the Election Council for a smooth running of its responsibilities. The consultation also covered representatives of CSOs, and Faith Based Organizations as well as representatives of regional mechanisms including IGAD and R-JEMEC, Partners including the Troika, EU and IPF.

The council has underlined the importance of national reconciliation and dialogue to create an enabling environment for the election that is slated to happen in December 2026.

The Council also stressed the importance of upholding the Peace agreement (R- ARCCS) signed in 2018 to have a smooth transition and create the necessary stability in the country.

It is to be recalled that AUC has appointed High Representative of the Chairperson for the South Sudan last month to strengthen support to the South Sudanese transition process.

[Hadera Abera Admassu @SMHaderaAbera]

Geneva Swizerland, 22 April 2026

The 7th Working Party Meeting on Ethiopia’s accession to the World Trade Organization is underway in Geneva, Switzerland.

At the opening session, the Minister of Trade and Regional Integration and Chief Negotiator, Kassahun Gofe (PhD), thanked the Working Party Chair, the Secretariat, and member states for their continued support in moving Ethiopia’s accession forward.

He emphasized that, since the 6th Working Party Meeting held last September, Ethiopia has achieved notable progress in both multilateral and bilateral negotiations. The country has submitted comprehensive responses to members’ questions, contributed to advancing the draft Working Party report, and completed 32 legislative measures.

In addition, Ethiopia has finalized bilateral mar ket access agreements with nine members and reaffirmed its determination to address the remaining key issues raised during the process.
He further noted that ongoing macroeconomic reforms have helped create a more favorable environment for trade and investment, both for domestic and foreign stakeholders, and underscored that Ethiopia is now more prepared than ever to join the multilateral global trading system.

[Ayikelkel Birhanu @ayikelkel]

🇪🇹 - 🇧🇩

[The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia 🇪🇹 @MFAEthiopia]

Minister of Foreign Affairs Gedion Timothewos held discussions with a delegation led by Khalilur Rahman, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

On the occasion, the two Ministers exchanged views on areas of cooperation in both bilateral and multilateral relations.

Gedion noted that Ethiopia continues to register sustained economic growth and invited Bangladeshi companies to engage in priority investment sectors identified by the Government, including renewable energy generation, agro-processing, the pharmaceutical and medical equipment manufacturing industries, as well as the broader manufacturing sector.

For his part, Minister Khalilur Rahman underscored his country’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations with Ethiopia, particularly in the areas of trade and investment cooperation.

At the conclusion of their discussions, the two Ministers agreed to elevate their bilateral relations to a higher level through enhanced economic cooperation.

[Hadera Abera Admassu @SMHaderaAbera]

On the sidelines of the Third Sudan International Conference 2026 in Berlin, I held a productive meeting with H.E. Dr. Geza Andreas von Geyr, State Secretary at Germany’s Federal Foreign Office. We exchanged views on bilateral, regional, and continental issues of mutual interest.

We agreed to build on our 120-year diplomatic relationship and further strengthen our bilateral consultation mechanisms.

[Hadera Abera Admassu @SMHaderaAbera]

On the sidelines of the Third International Sudan Conference 2026 in Berlin, I had the pleasure of meeting H.E. Dr. Niels Annen, State Secretary at Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

We discussed both bilateral and regional cooperation and reaffirmed our commitment to building on 120 years of partnership between our two friendly nations.

We agreed to deepen economic and development collaboration, particularly through promoting investment and advancing technology transfer. Additionally, we committed to working together to address the impacts of climate change and to cooperate on preparations for COP 32.

[Hadera Abera Admassu @SMHaderaAbera]

In the presence of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) and Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye, Ethiopia and Burundi signed and exchanged several memoranda of understanding.

The agreements cover key sectors including defense, health, education, water and energy, agriculture, trade, digital ID, and tourism.

These wide-ranging agreements reflect a mutual commitment to sustainable development and are intended to serve as a foundation for shared progress and prosperity.

[Hadera Abera Admassu @SMHaderaAbera]

Ethiopia Reviews WTO Accession Progress with Working Party Chair
Yaoundé, Cameroon – 27 March 2026

On the margins of MC14 in Yaoundé, Ethiopia’s delegation, led by H.E. Dr. Kassahun Gofe Balami, met with Working Party Chair H.E. Ambassador Rebecca Fisher-Lamb to assess progress and discuss next steps in the country’s WTO accession.

Both sides welcomed the strong momentum since the Sixth Working Party Meeting in September 2025, noting Ethiopia’s updated submissions and ongoing reforms. Preparations for the Seventh Working Party Meeting (22–23 April 2026) were reviewed, with Ethiopia reaffirming readiness to resolve the remaining, largely technical, issues.

Progress in bilateral market access negotiations and key regulatory reforms was also highlighted. Both parties underscored the importance of sustained engagement and coordination to finalize the Working Party Report and conclude the accession process in 2026.

The meeting, attended by the WTO Accessions Division led by Ms. Maika Oshikawa, ended with a shared commitment to sustained engagement toward concluding Ethiopia’s accession.

[Hadera Abera Admassu @SMHaderaAbera]

Yaoundé, Cameroon 🇨🇲
At the High-Level Africa–China Ministerial Meeting, Ethiopia’s WTO Negotiations Team stressed that industrialization is central to Africa’s productivity agenda—key to jobs, resilience, and self-reliance.

Looking ahead, we called for scaling up industrial transformation, boosting value-added exports, supporting AUDA-NEPAD’s Continental Power Systems Master Plan, and advancing sustainable financing, including debt restructuring, cancellation, and debt-for-development swaps.

[Hadera Abera Admassu @SMHaderaAbera]

On the eve of the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO MC14) in Yaoundé, Cameroon, the Ethiopian delegation of negotiators, led by H.E. Dr. Kassahun Gofe, Minister of Trade and Regional Integration held productive discussions with WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Ethiopia has now entered a pivotal phase in its accession process, successfully concluding bilateral trade agreements with nine countries while continuing to make steady progress in negotiations with its remaining partners.

[Hadera Abera Admassu @SMHaderaAbera]

This morning, I held separate and productive discussions with Ali Akbar Rezaei, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Suliman Khalid Al-Dhayi, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to Ethiopia.

Our talks focused on enhancing bilateral relations, with particular emphasis on expanding cooperation in economic, trade, investment, and labor sectors, while identifying practical areas of shared benefit.

We also exchanged perspectives on regional developments, underscoring the importance of dialogue in advancing stability and collective security across the Middle East.