Addis Ababa, October 17, 2026 (FMC) — African agency, economic sovereignty and diplomacy-led cooperation took centre stage at the Pre-Tana Forum Dialogue in Bahir Dar, as participants stressed the need for African-led responses to the continent’s evolving peace and security challenges amid shifting global power dynamics.
Held under the theme “Navigating a Changing World: The Role of Diplomacy and Dialogue in Advancing Peace and Security in Africa,” the dialogue brought together diplomats, scholars and other stakeholders to examine regional and international developments and explore practical approaches to conflict prevention and lasting stability.
Delivering opening remarks on behalf of Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos, Chief of Staff Adam Tesfaye underscored the importance of diplomacy, dialogue and mutual trust at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty, international fragmentation and rapid global change.
He said Africa must strengthen its capacity to shape its own responses to peace and security challenges, rather than rely on externally driven approaches, emphasizing that durable solutions require African ownership, strategic coordination and sustained dialogue.
Adam also highlighted the close relationship between economic sovereignty, development and security, noting that lasting stability depends on strengthening economic resilience through regional integration, industrialization and expanded intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He further emphasized the role of platforms such as the Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa in building trust, fostering a shared understanding of emerging challenges and advancing coordinated approaches to peace and security led by African countries themselves.
Reaffirming Ethiopia’s commitment to collective security and peaceful coexistence, Adam stressed that dialogue remains essential to achieving durable peace and stability across the continent.
The discussions explored the changing global and regional environment, the contribution of preventive diplomacy and inclusive dialogue to conflict prevention, and how established African platforms can translate strategic discussions into practical responses to security challenges.
The Pre-Tana Forum Dialogue precedes the 12th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa, scheduled for October 23–25, 2026, in Bahir Dar under the theme “Pathways to Peace in Africa: Economic Sovereignty and Geopolitical Transformation.”
The upcoming forum will provide a further platform for African and international stakeholders to discuss the relationship between economic sovereignty, geopolitical change and the continent’s pursuit of peace and security.