As the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly kicked off, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed transformed the summit’s sidelines into a powerhouse of high-level diplomacy. In a series of marathon meetings, the Prime Minister hosted over a dozen heads of state, international organization chiefs, and global icons, signaling Ethiopia’s central role in shaping the continent’s future.
The most significant diplomatic breakthrough came as Prime Minister Abiy met with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Amidst recent regional tensions, this face-to-face engagement is seen by analysts as a vital step toward de-escalation and constructive dialogue in the Horn of Africa. The Prime Minister also held a pivotal session with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, focusing on regional peace, the conflict in Sudan, and the UN’s partnership in Africa’s development.
The Prime Minister’s agenda reflected a mix of regional security and economic innovation.
PM Abiy welcomed the “new guard” of African leadership, including Botswana’s President Duma Boko and Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, discussing a shared vision for African sovereignty.
Talks with world-renowned economist Professor Jeffrey Sachs and the President of the African Development Bank focused on Ethiopia’s macroeconomic reforms and the role of infrastructure in regional integration.
Strengthening “brotherly” ties, Abiy met with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, and South Africa’s former President Thabo Mbeki to discuss AU institutional reforms and peace architecture.
Additional meetings were held with the leaders of Libya, Liberia, and Mozambique, covering a broad spectrum of bilateral cooperation and the AU’s 2026 theme of water security.
By hosting such a diverse array of global and continental players ranging from established elders to the continent’s newest reformists Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has reinforced Addis Ababa’s status as the diplomatic heartbeat of Africa.
