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Ethiopia: The 10th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa kicks off today (October 15), with the presence of Heads of State and Government, Ministers, and high-level delegations from various countries.
H.E. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, H.E. Abdelrahman Al-Burhan, the President of the Transitional Government of Sudan, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, the Prime Minister of Somalia, H.E. Hamza Abdi Barre, and Amhara Regional President Yilkal Kefale, among other leaders, attended the Forum.
Hafsa Maalim, Director of the Forum and moderator of the Tana Forum, recognized Ethiopia as a host country and the dignitaries.
In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed emphasized the importance of building continental security resilience and home-grown African solutions to emerging African problems.
Besides other aspects that could potentially be reflected by counterparts who are attending the Forum, Prime Minister Abiy underlined that he would like to point out three security spheres that indeed need attention during the deliberations of the Forum. The Premier stated that those are water, energy, and data governance.
Today, he reiterated, Africa is vulnerable to climate change despite contributing the least towards it. Putting the challenges of the citizens in that regard to the attention of the participants, Prime Minister Abiy noted most of Africa’s people live in rural areas with rain-fed agriculture and that 1/3 of Africans experience water scarcity.
Putting Ethiopia’s efforts in that regard, he said, Ethiopia has embarked on realizing a wide range of renewable energy alternatives. He further briefed Ethiopia’s efforts on hydro-power, gas, and commercial agriculture areas and plans towards energy export to neighbouring countries.
Speaking of the green legacy achievements of the country, Ethiopia has surpassed the target of planting 20 billion trees by planting 25 billion, with a survival rate of over 70% of the seedlings. He underscored that Ethiopia was putting into effect innovative solutions for timely challenges and indicated emission-free policies that are being developed.
He finally, among others, noted the need for data management and stressed that it should be in line with the African Agenda 2063. The Premier also stated that the youth should be integrated with the efforts the country is putting in place.
Abdelrahman Al-Burhan, the President of the Transitional Government of Sudan; Hamza Abdi Barre, the Prime Minister of Somalia; and Amhara Regional President Yilkal Kefale, also delivered remarks. The message from the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, was also delivered to the Forum.