A new chapter in global diplomacy is unfolding in Addis Ababa as high-level officials and leaders from the Caribbean are touching down for the second Africa-Caribbean Community (CARICOM) summit. The event, set to take place tomorrow, aims to forge a deeper and more meaningful partnership between the two regions, connected by a shared history and a common future.

Arrivals at Bole International Airport were met with a warm welcome from Ethiopian officials. Among the first to arrive were Prime Ministers Philip Davis of the Bahamas, Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent, and Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda, who were received by Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The day also saw the arrival of Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew of St. Kitts and Nevis, who was greeted by Engineer Habtamu Tegegn, Minister of Mines.

The two-day summit, which builds on the inaugural 2021 meeting, is expected to focus on a range of critical issues. A key agenda item is the push for reparatory justice, with leaders from both continents united in their call for redress for the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism. Other topics of discussion include strengthening economic ties, boosting trade and investment, and fostering cooperation in areas like climate change, food security, and technology.

With this gathering, Addis Ababa is once again cementing its role as a pivotal hub for Pan-African and global diplomacy, bringing together leaders to translate shared history into a shared mission for prosperity and justice.