Tana Forum Special Envoys’ Dialogue Opens in Bahir Dar Amid Growing Horn of Africa and Red Sea Security Challenges

Addis Ababa, October 23, 2026 (FMC) — The Tana Forum’s Special Envoys’ Dialogue opened in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, bringing together senior diplomats and regional leaders to examine shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Horn of Africa and mounting security challenges in the Red Sea.

In his welcoming remarks, Ambassador Redwan Huseen, Director General of Ethiopia’s National Intelligence and Security Service, warned that the region’s considerable economic potential and vital maritime trade routes face growing pressure from militarization, competition among foreign powers and renewed attacks on commercial shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

He stressed that securing the Red Sea cannot be the responsibility of a handful of countries, calling for urgent, collective cooperation among regional states and reliable international partners.

Redwan also underscored Ethiopia’s strategic stake in maritime security, noting that the country depends entirely on the Red Sea for its maritime trade and has a vital responsibility to safeguard its commercial shipping and prevent emerging security threats.

High-level panel discussions followed under the theme “Regional Security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.” Moderated by Paul-Simon Handy, Regional Director for East Africa and Representative to the African Union, the discussions brought together African and international envoys to explore the region’s changing geopolitical landscape and shared security concerns.

The panel featured Getachew Reda, Minister Advisor on East African Affairs; Guang Cong, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa; Frédéric Clavier, France’s Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa; Ambassador Heiko Nitzschke, Germany’s Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa; and Pekka Haavisto, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Sudan.

The dialogue forms part of the 12th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa, convened under the theme “Pathways to Peace in Africa: Economic Sovereignty and Geopolitical Transformation.” The forum brings regional and international stakeholders together to address Africa’s evolving security landscape and the geopolitical developments shaping the continent’s peace and stability.