Addis Ababa, October 6, 2026 (FMC) — A shift from acceptance toward influence, broader friendships, regional peace and economic integration feature among the federal government’s foreign-relations priorities for the 2019 fiscal year, Ethiopian President Taye Atske-Selassie said Tuesday.
Foreign relations constitute the eighth of the government’s eight major priorities outlined by President Taye as he presented its direction for the new fiscal year and the period ahead to the inaugural joint session of the House of Peoples’ Representatives and the House of Federation.
The priority calls for expanding Ethiopia’s circle of friends and encouraging those who advance the approach, while giving greater emphasis to regional peace and economic integration and strengthening the country’s international acceptance, according to the President’s presentation.
The direction comes within a broader emphasis in the government’s programme on safeguarding national interests and strengthening Ethiopia’s capacity to advance those interests in a changing regional and global environment.
President Taye also pointed to Ethiopia’s recent diplomatic experience, including its pursuit of reliable sea access through diplomacy and mutual benefit, as demonstrating the value of engagement grounded in shared growth and prosperity.
The foreign-relations priority therefore forms part of the federal government’s wider forward-looking programme presented at the opening of the new parliamentary working phase, alongside economic, social, security and institutional priorities for the 2019 fiscal year.