𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗮 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺, 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀

Addis Ababa, July 10, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s House of Peoples’ Representatives Speaker Tagesse Chaffo has emphasized that the increasingly interconnected nature of today’s security threats requires collective action, stronger partnerships, and renewed commitment to multilateral cooperation.

Speaking at the opening of the 32nd Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum (PI-SF) in Addis Ababa, Tagesse said security challenges have evolved beyond national borders, making cooperation among countries and institutions essential to addressing shared risks.

The two-day forum, hosted by Ethiopia, has brought together parliamentarians, intelligence and security officials, cybersecurity experts, policymakers, representatives of international financial institutions, and technology companies from several countries to discuss emerging global security challenges.

Ethiopia was selected to host the forum in recognition of its strategic role in Africa’s peace and security landscape, as well as its growing engagement in digital transformation and technology governance. The country is the second African nation to host the gathering after Kenya.

Opening the forum, Tagesse stressed that collective security depends on partnership, trust, solidarity, and a renewed commitment to multilateral cooperation.

He said the gathering reflects growing recognition that intelligence and security governance should be supported by democratic oversight, accountability, public trust, and effective parliamentary engagement.

The Speaker noted that legislatures have a critical role in approving security budgets, enacting relevant laws, and ensuring oversight of intelligence institutions.

Tagesse said the forum comes at an important time for Ethiopia following what he described as peaceful and transparent general elections, reaffirming the country’s commitment to constitutional governance, democracy, and the rule of law.

He warned that the global security environment is becoming increasingly complex, with terrorism, cybercrime, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, public health emergencies, and attacks on critical infrastructure posing challenges that no country can overcome alone.

Addressing security concerns in the Horn of Africa, the Speaker said the region continues to face violent extremism, prolonged conflicts, irregular migration, climate-related pressures, and governance challenges that are exploited by non-state armed groups and terrorist organizations.

He stressed that sustainable peace requires addressing the root causes of instability, including poverty, unemployment, exclusion, weak governance, and limited economic opportunities.

Tagesse reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to regional peace efforts and combating transnational threats through a prevention-oriented approach that strengthens governance, tackles human trafficking and irregular migration, and promotes safe, orderly, and regular migration while safeguarding human dignity.

Highlighting the connection between health security and national stability, he said Ethiopia is strengthening disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, and rapid response systems as part of its broader security efforts.

The Speaker also highlighted Ethiopia’s digital transformation agenda, saying the country is advancing responsible and human-centered artificial intelligence while strengthening cybersecurity resilience.

He further pointed to growing concerns related to energy security and critical minerals, calling for governance based on equity, transparency, sustainability, and mutual benefit.

Tagesse expressed confidence that the Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum would enhance international collaboration and contribute to stronger collective responses to emerging security challenges.

Addressing the forum, U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Ervin Massinga said contemporary security threats are increasingly global, interconnected, and rapidly evolving, making international cooperation indispensable.

He said parliamentarians have a unique role in strengthening security through legislation, resource allocation, and cross-border cooperation.

Massinga stressed the importance of information sharing in combating transnational cybercrime, trafficking networks, and other forms of cross-border criminal activity.

He also underscored the importance of transparency, warning that opaque agreements, dual-use technology exports, and surveillance-related arrangements could create risks for governance and national sovereignty.

The ambassador called for harmonized legal frameworks, stronger law enforcement cooperation, and enhanced cross-border data sharing, reaffirming the United States’ commitment to deepening cooperation with Ethiopia in addressing shared security challenges.