By Gelila Adamu
Addis Ababa, (AMECO)- African foreign ministers have gathered in Addis Ababa for the opening of the 49th ordinary session of the African Union Executive Council, facing immediate calls to overhaul continental institutions and secure financial self-reliance amidst deepening global instability.
Opening the ministerial session, Ethiopia’s foreign minister, Dr Gedion Timothewos ,urged member states to forge a unified diplomatic front, warning that Africa’s ability to navigate shifting geopolitical rivalries, climate disruptions, and rapid technological shifts depends entirely on its collective leverage through the African Union.
Dr Gedion insisted that long-delayed structural reforms must be accelerated to transform the AU into a financially independent body capable of enforcing African-led solutions without relying on external funding.
‘Africa’s influence in the emerging global order hinges on our capacity to speak with one voice,’ Gedion told delegates, emphasising that sustainable development requires stronger continental control over natural resources and the execution of the AU’s Agenda 2063 flagship programmes.
Addressing immediate regional threats, the foreign minister pledged solidarity with nations battling renewed Ebola outbreaks, praising the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) for bolstering emergency health architecture across the continent.
In a rare personal tribute during the opening ceremony, Gedion formally recognised veteran Ethiopian diplomat Ambassador Konjit Sinegiorgis for her decades of service in establishing and advancing pan-African multilateralism.
The Executive Council will spend the coming days drafting key policy recommendations on peace, regional economic integration, and institutional governance. These proposals will be submitted for final adoption at the upcoming Assembly of Heads of State and Government summit.
