Addis Ababa, July 29, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos and Burundi’s Foreign Minister and Chairperson of the African Union Executive Council Édouard Bizimana held discussions on strengthening the effectiveness of the continental body and advancing bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
The two ministers met in Addis Ababa on the sidelines of the 49th Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council, where they exchanged views on the ongoing session and key issues on its agenda.
They underscored the importance of ensuring sustainable and predictable financing for the African Union, noting that the effectiveness of the continental organization depends on its ability to secure adequate resources to implement its priorities and meet institutional requirements.
The ministers expressed confidence that the Executive Council session would deliver successful outcomes and contribute to advancing shared continental objectives.
Gedion and Bizimana also reviewed the state of Ethiopia-Burundi relations and emphasized the need to further strengthen cooperation through the effective implementation of draft agreements exchanged between the two countries.
The meeting was held as foreign ministers and senior representatives from AU member states convened in Addis Ababa for the 49th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council under the African Union’s 2026 Theme of the Year, “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.”