Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Launches Green Legacy Campaign, Surpassing National Target
Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos Visits Belarus
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Leads the Green Legacy and Volunteer Initiatives in Dire Dawa
Ethiopia Participates in the Horn of Africa Peace and Development Conference
NEWS IN BRIEF
Ethiopia
President Taye Atske Selassie on Tuesday (August 5) bade farewell to outgoing German Ambassador Jens Hanefeld and Egyptian Ambassador Mohamed Omar Gad, thanking them for strengthening ties with Ethiopia.
Ethiopia and China launched the 2025 Chinese Medical Volunteers’ African Charity Mission on Thursday (August 7) at Silk Road General Hospital in Addis Ababa. The program includes major surgeries, school health screenings, and cervical cancer checks, with a focus on skills transfer. President Taye, Health Minister Mekdes Daba, and Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Chen Hai attended the launch.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed officially launched this year’s one-day tree planting campaign, with a target of planting 700 million saplings, on Thursday (July 31) at Abajifar Palace in Jimma. Held under the theme “Renewal Through Planting,” the campaign mobilized millions of Ethiopians across the country in a historic effort to set a global record. (See article)
Prime Minister Abiy on Sunday (August 3) inaugurated the newly completed Entoto to Arat Kilo Plaza corridor in Addis Ababa. The development includes modern walkways, bicycle lanes, improved lighting, upgraded shops in the Shiro Meda market, and new public spaces such as playgrounds and a soccer field.
on Friday (August 1), the Premier appointed Addisu Arega as Ethiopia’s new Minister of Agriculture. Addisu previously served as the Oromia Regional State Rural Cluster Coordinator with the rank of Deputy Chief Administrator.
Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos paid a working visit to the Republic of Belarus on Wednesday (July 29) and met with the Belarusian President Aleksander Lukashenko and Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov. (See article)
The Ethiopian delegation, led by Alemu Sime, Minister of Transport and Logistics, took part in the Third United Nations Landlocked Developing Countries Conference (LLDC3) held from August 5-8 in Awaza, Turkmenistan. The Conference provided an opportunity to explore meaningful partnerships to implement the Awaza Programme of Action. (See article)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with its affiliated institutions, launched the 2017 E.C. Annual Green Legacy Planting Program and Institutional Summer Volunteering Service in Dire Dawa City, aiming to reaffirm national commitment to environmental sustainability and promote inclusive development. The Green Legacy planting program officially commenced on Saturday (August 2), at the Dire Dawa Free Trade Zone, following the delegation’s arrival the previous evening via the Ethio-Djibouti Railway. (See article)
State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Hadera Abera, received Myanmar’s first resident Ambassador to Ethiopia, Aung Min Oo, at his office on Thursday (August 7). The two sides discussed matters of mutual interest and ways to boost bilateral ties.
The United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktaking Moment, held in Addis Ababa from July 27 to 29, saw a large turnout of stakeholders in the global food value chain, including governments, civil society, the private sector, and international organizations. Member States presented their national pathways for achieving food security and building resilient food systems. Businesses highlighted the transformative policy measures needed to expand agricultural investment and enhance the capacity of small and medium enterprises. The role of youth as key drivers of agrifood systems transformation was also widely discussed. (See article)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, in a Press Statement released on Monday (August 4), welcomed the appointment of Girma Amente as the African Union’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and World Trade Organization in Geneva.
On another Press Statement released on Friday (August 8), the Ministry also expressed its deep sorrow over the devastating helicopter crash in Ghana’s Ashanti region that claimed the lives of several government officials, reaffirming its solidarity with the people and Government of the Republic of Ghana during this difficult period of mourning.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs convened a meeting on Wednesday (August 6) to strengthen the Ethiopian National Committee on International Humanitarian Law. Chaired by Ambassador Reta Alemu, Director General of International Legal Affairs, the session brought together representatives from key institutions, including the Ministries of Defense, Peace, and Justice; the Federal Police and Courts; the Ministry of Health; and the Ethiopian Red Cross Society.
Kenya
Ambassador Hadera Abera, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, met with George M. Orina, Kenya’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, on Thursday (August 7). During the meeting, the two sides explored ways to enhance bilateral ties, emphasizing deeper cooperation, increased trade, improved infrastructure connectivity, strong people-to-people ties and the promotion of regional peace and stability.
Ethiopia and Kenya held an investment and trade forum on Wednesday (August 6) in Nairobi, organized by the Ethiopian Embassy and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Over 150 participants explored business opportunities in sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, ICT, and energy.
Somalia
On Tuesday (August 5), Ambassador Suleiman Dedefo, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Somalia, presented his credentials to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The president appreciated Ethiopia for its support in Somalia’s peace-building efforts and highlighted the need for joint commissions to advance cooperation. Ambassador Suleiman reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic and economic ties and emphasized coordinated efforts to tackle regional security challenges.
Africa and the African Union
Ethiopia attended the third Horn of Africa Peace and Development Conference that took place in Uganda, Kampala on Tuesday (July 29). The third edition of the conference discussed regional peace, development, and governance in an atmosphere of openness, unity, solidarity, and mutual respect. High-level government officials from Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, and China, and representatives from regional organizations, including IGAD secretariat, East African Community, and International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, attended the conference. (See article)
The Government of Ethiopia on Thursday (August 7) held a national media briefing in preparation for the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2), set to take place in Addis Ababa from September 8–10, 2025. The summit, co-hosted with the African Union, will focus on “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing Africa’s Resilient and Green Development” and is anchored on showcasing Africa-led solutions and unlocking climate finance.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Launches Green Legacy Campaign, Surpassing National Target
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed officially launched this year’s one-day tree planting campaign, with a target of planting 700 million saplings, on Thursday (July 31) at Abajifar Palace in Jimma. Held under the theme “Renewal Through Planting,” the campaign mobilized millions of Ethiopians across the country in a historic effort to set a global record.
The Prime Minister hailed the initiative as a remarkable achievement and underscored its significance as the largest single-day tree-planting campaign in the world. He noted that approximately eight billion seedlings are expected to be planted as part of this year’s Green Legacy drive, further cementing Ethiopia’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
Reflecting on the broader impact of the initiative, Prime Minister Abiy emphasized that the Green Legacy is a testament to Ethiopia’s ability to unite, plan strategically, and achieve extraordinary goals. He stated that the participation of millions of citizens across all sectors of society demonstrates a deep-rooted commitment to the nation’s shared vision of resilience and prosperity.
The Prime Minister further remarked that the Green Legacy campaign stands alongside the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as one of the country’s monumental national undertakings. By reversing deforestation, curbing land degradation, and mitigating climate change, the initiative is not only addressing environmental challenges but also enhancing food security and combating poverty.
Over the past six years, Ethiopia has planted more than 40 billion seedlings, positioning itself as a model for environmental restoration on the African continent. If this year’s target is met, the cumulative number of trees planted since the launch of the Green Legacy Initiative will reach 48 billion, bringing the nation within reach of its ambitious 50 billion target.
In his social media post at the conclusion of the campaign, Prime Minister Abiy remarked, “Today, Ethiopians have once again shown that incredible things are possible when we come together. Our ambitious goal to plant 700 million trees in a single day has not only been met, it has surpassed expectations.”
He praised the broad participation from all corners of society, including public and private institutions, international organizations, embassies, and individuals of all ages. “Green Legacy is becoming a proud Ethiopian tradition,” he said. “It is transforming the landscape of our country, rewriting our environmental legacy, and contributing to the greening of the planet.”
The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to coordinators, volunteers, and all who took part, Ethiopians at home and abroad, and friends of Ethiopia, for their enthusiastic participation. “Planting is not just about trees; it’s about creating shade and hope for future generations,” he concluded.
Ethiopia Underscores its Right to Guaranteed and Secure Territorial Access to the Sea at the Awaza Conference
The Ethiopian delegation, led by Alemu Sime, Minister of Transport and Logistics, took part in the Third United Nations Landlocked Developing Countries Conference (LLDC3) held from August 5-8 in Awaza, Turkmenistan. The Conference provided an opportunity to explore meaningful partnerships to implement the Awaza Programme of Action.
In his address at the General Debate, Alemu shared the policy position of Ethiopia on the right of all states to access the sea, to be able to exercise their shared entitlement and responsibility in the utilization of maritime resources. He underscored the equal stake of states in the economic opportunity, environmental protection, and security of the global maritime spaces. In relation, Ethiopia commended the establishment of a high-level panel of experts to explore the means of implementing the equal right of all states to access the sea.
During the conference, the Ethiopian delegation participated in the general debate, ministerial roundtables and side events on topics of national importance. Furthermore, Ethiopian parliamentary, youth, and civil society representatives participated in the conference. The delegation shared the achievements and good practices of Ethiopia in the fields of regional peace and security, trade, transport, infrastructure, and connectivity, logistics, tourism, innovation and technology, food security, regional integration and climate change.
Ethiopia showcased its experience in port and corridor development connecting Ethiopia to Djibouti, including through the Ethiopia–Djibouti railway and the Lamu Port, South Sudan, Ethiopia Corridor (LAPPSET). The delegation also highlighted the ongoing discussions and diplomatic efforts to establish access to the Sea based on mutually beneficial terms negotiated with neighboring countries.
The Conference recognized, by consensus, the development challenges faced by LLDCs due to trade and non-trade barriers, exorbitant transit fees, lack of infrastructure and administrative barriers. Calls were made to resolve these challenges on the basis of international law that guarantees the right to transit for all states and the binding obligation of coastal states.
The Conference officially adopted the Awaza Programme of Action (2024-2034) that will guide international cooperation. Among others, the Awaza Program of Action urged for the establishment of a standalone financing for LLDCs and set targets in the fields of transit, transport and connectivity, human capital development, energy development, regional integration, trade facilitation, agriculture development, and industrialization.
Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos Visits Belarus
Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos paid a reciprocal working visit to the Republic of Belarus on Wednesday (July 29) and met with the Belarusian President Aleksander Lukashenko and Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov.
During the discussions, the President of Belarus stated that Ethiopia is one of the most important countries for Belarus in the Horn of Africa and underlined Belarus’s readiness to contribute to the development of Ethiopia. The President also indicated commitment to supply mechanical engineering products and technologies necessary for Ethiopia in the fields of agriculture and to strengthen cooperation in areas of education and capacity building.
During the courtesy call with President Lukashenko, Gedion delivered a personal message from PM Abiy Ahmed. The Minister also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the President for his unwavering support for Ethiopia on multiple occasions and underlined Ethiopia’s continued commitment to maintain high-level engagements between the two countries with the view to further deepen economic cooperation between the two countries.
In addition, in the bilateral discussion with his Belarussian counterpart, Maxim Ryzhenkov, Gedion expressed Ethiopia’s keen interest in expanding cooperation in areas of investment and trade, particularly in the areas of agricultural machinery and modernization of agricultural technologies.
On his part, the Belarusian Foreign Minister, Ryzhenkov, indicated Belarus’s readiness to embark on practical works to implement joint projects in mutually important areas. He also underlined the need to expand cooperation in areas of training, technology transfer, etc.
Both sides expressed their commitment to work closely to further enhance cooperation between the two countries in multiple areas.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Leads the Green Legacy and Volunteer Initiatives in Dire Dawa
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with its affiliated institutions, launched the 2017 E.C. Annual Green Legacy Planting Program and Institutional Summer Volunteering Service in Dire Dawa City, aiming to reaffirm national commitment to environmental sustainability and promote inclusive development. The Green Legacy planting program officially commenced on Saturday (August 2), at the Dire Dawa Free Trade Zone, following the delegation’s arrival the previous evening via the Ethio-Djibouti Railway.
Convening over 550 senior officials, executives, and staff from the Ministry and affiliated institutions, the initiative was honored by the presence of State Ministers Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye and Ambassador Hadera Abera, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Kenya Bacha Debele, and the Mayor of Dire Dawa City Administration, Kedir Juhar.
During the event, Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye emphasized the Green Legacy initiative as a generational and transformative project, highlighting its vital role in advancing national environmental sustainability while contributing to global efforts that foster regional cooperation. He further underscored the initiative’s significance in strengthening national green development, combating climate change, preventing land degradation, enhancing agricultural productivity, and securing a sustainable and healthy environment for future generations.
Mayor Kedir Juhar of Dire Dawa, for his part, highlighted that the planting of over 700 million seedlings in a single day stands as a remarkable reflection of national unity and shared commitment.
In addition to the planting program, the event also featured an Institutional Summer Volunteering Service, comprising a cornerstone-laying ceremony for 20 homes for elderly and vulnerable residents, an effort organized by the Ethiopian Embassy in Kenya. The distribution of educational materials to 500 students in need was also carried out during the ceremony. These activities underscore the Ministry’s broader commitment to advancing national integration and social inclusivity.
The Green Legacy initiative reflects national commitment to environmental sustainability and resilient development. The Ministry reaffirmed, in this regard, its ongoing efforts to strengthen the program, ensuring that successive generations inherit a greener, more prosperous, and united nation.
UN Food Systems Summit Stocktaking Moment in Addis Ababa Delivers Tangible Outcomes for Global Action
The United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktaking Moment, held in Addis Ababa from July 27 to 29, saw a large turnout of stakeholders in the global food value chain, including governments, civil society, the private sector, and international organizations. Member States presented their national pathways for achieving food security and building resilient food systems. Businesses highlighted the transformative policy measures needed to expand agricultural investment and enhance the capacity of small and medium enterprises. The role of youth as key drivers of agrifood systems transformation was also widely discussed.
A unified call and strong commitment to a future where no one goes to bed hungry was echoed by Heads of State and Government, leaders of international organizations, ministers, and private sector stakeholders.
The Summit also featured debates on the declining trend in development finance, which falls short of the USD 400 billion needed annually to implement the food systems agenda. Restrictions on technology transfer, stemming from intellectual property protections, were also discussed. The impact of the current geopolitical landscape and coercive measures on food trade, agricultural supplies, and the broader management of food value chains was examined. Discussions also covered the concept of food sovereignty, balancing the protection of smallholder farms with the interests of large agribusinesses.
Africa made its case anchored in Agenda 2063 and the Kampala Declaration on the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), which is set to enter into force in January 2026. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the AU’s Champion for Agricultural Development, highlighted Africa’s potential to feed itself and beyond, a message that gained broad consensus during the Summit. The continent’s goals to eliminate hunger, expand intra-African food trade, and boost agricultural productivity received strong support.
In the early years of the United Nations, Ethiopia stressed that the organization’s focus on collective security would fall short without coordinated efforts toward equitable development and poverty eradication. Since this 1953 call to action, the UN has advanced an extensive development agenda that has accelerated progress in poverty reduction and sustainable growth. Staying true to its tradition of advancing international cooperation on development, Ethiopia is working to place food security and poverty alleviation at the center of global discourse.
Seizing the opportunity presented by the Summit, Ethiopia showcased its national food systems roadmap through key initiatives such as Yelemat Tirufat, Green Legacy, and the summer wheat irrigation program. As part of this, 400 participants from around the world were taken on field visits to sites organized around various value chains, including “Avocado,” “Poultry,” “Livestock and Dairy,” “Research and Development,” “Wheat,” and “School Feeding.”
Ethiopia also co-hosted several side events, including a high-level panel on transforming the coffee value chain and a session on the role of art in mobilizing youth. The iconic Science Museum hosted the coffee panel, which featured dialogue between representatives of Africa’s two largest coffee producers, Ethiopia and Uganda, and one of the world’s largest coffee processing nations, Italy. The head of the International Coffee Organization presented recommendations to ensure fair trade and equitable benefits for producers. The Executive Director of the African Coffee Organization outlined the steps Africa must take to further develop its strategic crop and reduce exports of raw beans. Italy pledged USD 100 million from its climate action fund to support efforts to transform the coffee value chain in Ethiopia and Uganda.
The deliberations and debates in Addis will continue at key global platforms, including the 30th Climate Conference in Belém, Brazil; the UN Social Summit in Doha, Qatar; the Biodiversity Conference in Yerevan, Armenia; and the 2025 SDG Summit in New York.
Ethiopia Participates in the Horn of Africa Peace and Development Conference
Ethiopia attended the third Horn of Africa Peace and Development Conference that took place in Uganda, Kampala on Tuesday (July 29). The third edition of the conference discussed regional peace, development, and governance in an atmosphere of openness, unity, solidarity, and mutual respect. High-level government officials from Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, and China, and representatives from regional organizations, including IGAD secretariat, East African Community, and International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, attended the conference.
Delivering a key note address, Xue Bing, Special Envoy of China to the Horn of Africa Affairs expressed China’s readiness to play a constructive role in regional peace processes in coordination with regional and continental organizations. He presented China’s new initiatives such as expanding the zero-tariff access for African countries and enhancing cooperation in green technology and digital industries as boosts for regional development. He further confirmed China’s pledge to continue supporting security cooperation in areas such as counterterrorism and military training in addition to intensifying economic cooperation.
The meeting underlined the importance of accelerating the implementation of key regional development strategies specially through frameworks like the Belt and Road Initiative, the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway, and the Mombasa-Nairobi SGR. Participants underscored the significance of these projects in unlocking growth by improving connectivity and regional integration. Ethiopia recognizes the central role these projects play in steering growth and expediating regional integration in the Horn of Africa. In line with this, Ethiopia appreciated China’s continued support in this regard.
Furthermore, the conference provided an opportunity for Ethiopia to showcase its best practices in mitigating climate change through its Green Legacy Initiative and addressing Food insecurity through the implementation of the ‘Summer Wheat Production Initiative’. Etsegenet Yimenu, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to the Republic of Uganda, presented Ethiopia’s experience underscoring key achievements in the sector. The Ambassador stated Ethiopia has implemented various climate adaptation strategies and policies to build resilience in its food systems. Moreover, she highlighted Ethiopia’s key achievements in climate change mitigation referring to the renewable energy development, and the Green Legacy Initiative, a reforestation program that has increased the country’s forest coverage from 17% to 24%. Participants recognized Ethiopia’s remarkable achievement and, through the Joint Statement issued at the end of the conference, lauded Ethiopia for the progress.
The Peaceful Development Initiative, a platform initiated by China three years ago, plays a facilitative role privileging dialogue among the countries of the region. It also provides the platform where countries of the region learn from each other’s best practices. In line with this, Ethiopia has actively participated in all the three editions of the outlook on peace and development in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia continues to actively participate in this Initiative placing peaceful development at the core of its national security and development strategy as well as regional vision of integrated development and collective security.
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