Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos used the Chatham House Conference today to deliver a dual message: Africa must now lead the global discourse, and for Ethiopia specifically, that leadership starts with "synergetic unity of purpose, institutional strength, and shared prosperity."

Addressing the conference in Addis Ababa, which focused on “Africa’s Rising Influence: Advancing Agency in Foreign Policy and Global Governance,” Minister Gedion emphatically stated that Africa cannot remain a "bystander" in the shifting multipolar world. The conference was held in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Amani Africa. He argued that the continent must proactively shape global affairs through unity, deep reflection, and effective action.

The minister highlighted that the necessary structures for collective success are already in place, citing the African Union, Regional Economic Communities, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Furthermore, FM Gedion strongly underscored the vital importance of Africa telling its own stories and amplifying its voice in global discourse. He made it clear that the core question today is no longer whether Africa matters, but how the continent will choose to lead. The high-level gathering successfully brought together policymakers, scholars, and partners to explore concrete strategies for Africa to assert greater strategic influence on the global stage through enhanced cooperation, innovation, and agency.