Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie declared a new era of African self-sufficiency and renewed his country’s demand for diplomatic sea access during an address at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. Speaking to world leaders, President Taye highlighted Ethiopia’s rapid transformation from a wheat importer into one of the continent’s largest producers, asserting that the achievement proves Africa can feed itself through innovation and climate-resilient agriculture.

However, President Taye warned that Ethiopia’s massive economic expansion cannot be sustained without reliable and dependable access to the sea. Outlining major infrastructure investments, including the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, designed to generate 13,000 megawatts of clean energy by 2030, and a new $12.5 billion international airport, he confirmed that Ethiopia is actively pursuing all diplomatic avenues to secure maritime access for the common benefit and progress of the entire region.

Extending his call for equity to the global stage, President Taye demanded immediate UN Security Council reform to give 1.6 billion Africans equal representation, while urging developing nations to lead rather than follow in the age of artificial intelligence. He pointed to Ethiopia’s Five Million Coders Program, its upcoming University of Artificial Intelligence, and its selection as host for the COP32 climate summit in November 2027 as evidence of the Global South’s capacity to drive global solutions.

Concluding his address, the Ethiopian president urged reckless external actors to stop fueling instability in the Horn of Africa while reaffirming support for a Sudanese-led peace process and pointing to Ethiopia's recent democratic elections and National Dialogue as foundations for lasting domestic stability.