Addis Ababa: President Taye Atskeselasie has called for genuine partnership to achieve African aspirations. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gedion Timothewos, hosted a dinner reception in honor of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs who took part in the 46th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union at the newly built Addis International Convention Centre.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the Chief Guest of Honour, President Taye Atske-Selassie, remarked during the event that in light of the ever-shifting global geopolitics and geo-economics, Member States in unison shall continue to make significant strides on matters that impact the peace, stability, and unity of Africa more than ever before. He emphasized the weakening of multilateralism and the departure from the long-held practice of collective development and security. President Taye stressed that the path ahead requires genuine partnership and a sense of esprit de corps.
President Taye added that Ethiopia will continue to commit to work towards realizing the Africa envisioned: an Africa that is peaceful, stable, and self-reliant. The 46th ordinary session of the Executive Council provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress made as a continent and address challenges being faced.
Key issues such as peace and security, institutional reform agenda, food self-sufficiency, infrastructural connectivity, and policy harmonization were highlighted as having a profound impact on more than 1.5 billion Africans. The theme of the year, justice for Africans and people of African descent, serves as a reminder of the historical plight of forefathers and mothers subjected to slavery and uprooted from their motherland.
As the first day of the ministerial session concluded, participants were reminded of the importance of collaboration, with achievements attributed to the collective will, wisdom, and commitment of every member state, along with the African Union Commission.
Foreign Minister Gedion emphasized the importance of multilateralism for Africa and the Global South, citing global challenges like climate change and pandemics. He called upon participants to enhance collective institutional capacity to foster mediation and conflict prevention mechanisms aligned with the Pan-African “African Solutions to African Challenges” principle.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and several foreign ministers attended the dinner reception.