Addis Ababa, November 5, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Gedion Timothewos, highlighted Africa’s growing global influence during a keynote address at the Chatham House Conference held in Addis Ababa today, themed “Africa’s Rising Influence: Advancing Agency in Foreign Policy and Global Governance.” The event was organized in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Amani Africa.
In his address, Minister Gedion emphasized that Africa can no longer afford to be a passive observer in an increasingly multipolar world. Instead, the continent must actively shape global affairs through unity, strategic reflection, and decisive action.
“For Ethiopia, the key lies in synergetic unity of purpose, strong institutions, and shared prosperity,” he said, highlighting the African Union, Regional Economic Communities, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as critical platforms for collective advancement.
The Foreign Minister also stressed the importance of Africa telling its own story and projecting its voice in global discourse. “The question is no longer whether Africa matters, but how the continent chooses to lead,” he noted.
The conference convened policymakers, scholars, and international partners to explore pathways for Africa to assert greater strategic influence globally, focusing on cooperation, innovation, and enhanced agency.