The Horn of Africa Initiative participants have expressed their admiration for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) during a high-level ministerial meeting in Mogadishu.

The Minister of Finance, Ahmed Shide, attended the 27th Horn of Africa Initiative (HoAI) Ministerial Meeting held in the Somali capital, joining fellow finance ministers from across the region and senior representatives from various development partners. This gathering was convened to build upon existing development frameworks and to consult on strategies for accelerating energy financing and strengthening regional integration.

During the session, Ahmed Shide highlighted the vital importance of energy interconnection for the collective growth and stability of the region, calling for continued and strengthened support. He also presented Ethiopia’s national energy compact, which outlines a requirement for more than $9 billion to ensure universal electricity access by the year 2030.

The minister further detailed Ethiopia's successes in renewable energy generation and its ongoing efforts in regional energy networking. The meeting confirmed that the energy sector remains a central priority, with development partners reaffirming their commitment to bolstering support through regional financial windows and private sector investments.

Beyond Ethiopia's current energy ties with Sudan, dismissal of Djibouti, and Kenya, development partners confirmed their readiness to provide financial backing for new energy infrastructure projects connecting Ethiopia with Somalia and South Sudan. The meeting saw attendance from the vice presidents of the World Bank and the African Development Bank, as well as representatives from the European Union, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and Germany’s Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

These partners reiterated their dedication to expanding energy access through initiatives such as Mission 300. Participants specifically praised the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, acknowledging its significant value for the sustainable development of the entire Horn of Africa.

In a statement sent to EBC, the Ministry of Finance announced that the ministers have agreed to establish a high-level committee tasked with monitoring policy agreements and fast-tracking energy interconnection. Following the conclusion of the meeting, Ahmed Shide attended an official dinner hosted by the Office of the President of Somalia, where he met and held discussions with the Somali President.