Addis Ababa, October 24, 2026 (FMC) — The 12th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa has officially opened in Bahir Dar, bringing African leaders and stakeholders together to deliberate on the continent’s peace and security, economic sovereignty and evolving role in a changing global order.
The forum commenced under the theme “Pathways to Peace in Africa: Economic Sovereignty and Geopolitical Transformation,” with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, chair of this year’s forum, and Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye, the current Chairperson of the African Union, among the leaders present.
The gathering provides a platform for African leaders and stakeholders to examine the continent’s security challenges alongside the economic and geopolitical forces shaping its future. Its agenda links the pursuit of lasting peace with Africa’s capacity to advance its own priorities and strengthen its position in global affairs.
As conflicts, shifting geopolitical alignments and economic pressures continue to shape the international environment, the forum offers an opportunity to discuss African-led approaches to peace and security and the partnerships needed to translate continental priorities into practical action.
By placing economic sovereignty and geopolitical transformation alongside peace and security, the 12th Tana Forum highlights the interconnected challenges facing the continent and the importance of coordinated African responses.