Addis Ababa, September 24, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopian President Taye Atske-Selassie has called for a renewal of multilateralism and reform of the global order to reflect contemporary realities, stressing that Africa must have an equal voice in shaping decisions that affect the world.
Addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Taye recalled Ethiopia’s longstanding engagement with the multilateral system, including Emperor Haile Selassie’s historic address to the United Nations and Ethiopia’s earlier experience as a member of the League of Nations.
He said the world is confronting interconnected challenges, including rapid advances in artificial intelligence, the climate crisis, widening inequality and persistent poverty, requiring renewed moral courage and collective commitment to international obligations.
President Taye highlighted Ethiopia’s role as the host of the 32nd United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP32), scheduled to take place in November 2027, inviting world leaders to Ethiopia for an inclusive platform focused on advancing effective climate action.
He said Ethiopia is also positioning itself to contribute to the global conversation on artificial intelligence and technological transformation, citing the country’s 5 Million Coders initiative and plans to establish a University of Artificial Intelligence.
On the question of global representation, President Taye underscored the need for meaningful African representation in the United Nations Security Council, noting that Africa is home to some 1.6 billion people and should have a commensurate voice in the institutions governing global peace and security.
Turning to the Horn of Africa, he stressed the importance of regional cooperation, peace and shared prosperity, while expressing Ethiopia’s concern over external interference in regional affairs. He said Ethiopia has exercised restraint and remains committed to a future in which countries of the region pursue development and prosperity through cooperation.
Regarding the conflict in Sudan, President Taye emphasized that peace must be Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned, underscoring the importance of a nationally driven process in resolving the crisis.
He also highlighted Ethiopia’s recent national election and the National Dialogue Commission’s summit as part of the country’s efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and build broader national consensus.
On food security, President Taye pointed to Ethiopia’s progress in climate-resilient wheat production, saying the country has moved from being a wheat importer to becoming one of Africa’s major producers. He stressed that Africa has the capacity to feed itself through greater investment in agricultural productivity, resilience and innovation.
He further highlighted Ethiopia’s Green Legacy initiative, which he said has resulted in the planting of more than 56 billion trees, contributing significantly to climate mitigation and environmental restoration.
Ethiopia’s clean-energy potential was also highlighted, with President Taye putting the country’s renewable energy potential at around 60,000 megawatts and outlining plans to expand electricity generation to 13,000 megawatts by 2030 and increase power exports to neighboring countries.
He described the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as a pan-African clean-energy project, emphasizing its potential contribution to regional development through expanded access to renewable electricity.
President Taye also outlined Ethiopia’s plans for a major international airport project, expected to involve an investment of about 12.5 billion US dollars and ultimately accommodate around 110 million passengers and approximately four million tons of cargo annually. He said the project would strengthen Ethiopia’s connectivity and support deeper integration into the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Addressing Ethiopia’s need for dependable access to the sea, President Taye said reliable sea access is essential to the country’s economic development and global trade integration. He stressed that the issue can be managed in a manner that serves common regional interests and said Ethiopia continues to pursue diplomatic avenues for access to and from the sea.
Concluding his address, President Taye reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter, emphasizing the values of dignity, justice and solidarity as foundations for addressing shared global challenges.