By Henok Tadele HAILE Addis Ababa, May 13, 2026 —Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Wednesday officially welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron at the historic National Palace as the French leader began his latest official visit to Ethiopia, signaling the continued strengthening of relations between the two nations. Sharing moments from the welcoming ceremony at the National Palace, Prime Minister Abiy posted on social media that he had formally received President Macron, whose latest trip underscores France’s growing strategic interest in Ethiopia and the wider Horn of Africa region. The two leaders later visited the Ethiopia Science Museum, where discussions focused on innovation, technology, and future opportunities for cooperation. In another social media post following the visit, PM Abiy said Ethiopia and France are “walking ahead to the future,” describing the Science Museum tour as a reflection of both nations’ shared commitment to innovation and technological advancement.   Welcoming President Macron on his third official visit to Ethiopia, Prime Minister Abiy said France’s friendship with Ethiopia “speaks for itself,” emphasizing that bilateral ties continue to deepen. Beyond the ceremonial engagements, the visit produced tangible diplomatic outcomes. The two leaders held substantive bilateral talks at the National Palace, addressing a broad range of issues of mutual interest. Among the key agreements signed was a 54.6 million Euro loan for Ethiopia’s Renewable, Integrated, Sustainable Energy and Digitalization Program, which is expected to support the country’s green energy transition and digital transformation agenda. Additional cooperation agreements were also exchanged, reinforcing collaboration in sustainable development, energy, and technological modernization. Macron’s latest visit comes at a time when relations between Ethiopia and France are gaining remarkable momentum across political, economic, cultural, and development sectors.   The relationship between the two countries dates back to the 19th century when Ethiopia and France signed the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce in 1843. Formal diplomatic relations were established in 1897 following agreements signed between Emperor Menelik II and French representative Léonce Lagarde. That same year also marked the beginning of construction of the historic Djibouti–Addis Ababa Railway, one of the earliest major infrastructure partnerships between Ethiopia and France. France later opened its diplomatic legation in Addis Ababa in 1907 on land granted by Emperor Menelik II. Throughout the 20th century, cooperation expanded into infrastructure development, legal reforms, education, administration, and cultural exchanges. One of the most notable milestones came in 1966 when former French President Charles de Gaulle visited Addis Ababa, resulting in the signing of a cultural convention that remains active today. Relations entered a new phase in 2018 following Prime Minister Abiy’s rise to power. His visit to Paris later that year opened a new chapter in bilateral engagement, followed by Macron’s state visit to Ethiopia in 2019, during which both countries signed agreements on heritage preservation, security, and infrastructure development. Diplomatic engagement continued in subsequent years. In 2023, French and German foreign ministers visited Addis Ababa in support of Ethiopia’s peace process following the northern conflict. Abiy also visited Paris that same year, further strengthening dialogue between the two governments. The momentum continued in 2024 when French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot visited Ethiopia. Macron later returned to Addis Ababa in December of that year for the inauguration of the restored National Palace, which was renovated with French support and transformed into a museum. Prime Minister Abiy’s visit to France in May 2025 and France’s hosting of a Europe-Ethiopia investment forum later that year further demonstrated the growing strategic importance of the partnership.   Economic cooperation has increasingly become one of the strongest pillars of Ethiopia-France relations. The partnership is particularly active in aerospace, energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing sectors. According to diplomatic sources, bilateral trade reached 812.6 million Euros in 2024, making Ethiopia one of France’s major trading partners in East Africa. The aviation sector remains especially significant, with Airbus supplying aircraft to Ethiopian Airlines. French investments have also expanded into logistics, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and digital services. The Franco-Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce continues playing an important role in strengthening business partnerships between companies from both countries. Renewable energy cooperation remains another critical area of engagement. France previously supported Ethiopia through the development of the Ashegoda Wind Farm, one of the country’s major wind energy projects and a symbol of growing cooperation in sustainable development.   Cultural ties remain equally strong. Alliance Française Addis-Ababa and Alliance Française Dire Dawa continue promoting French language education and cultural exchange through exhibitions, language programs, concerts, and film screenings. France has also supported Ethiopia’s creative industries through initiatives such as the Habesha Creative Lab, which helps young Ethiopian innovators and entrepreneurs expand their creative potential. President Macron’s latest visit reflects more than diplomatic tradition. It signals a partnership increasingly focused on innovation, sustainable development, investment, and future opportunities. As Ethiopia continues pursuing economic reform and technological transformation, its growing partnership with France appears poised to play an increasingly important role in shaping that future.

Addis Ababa, May 13, 2026 — Ethiopia and France have signed a 54.6 million Euro concessional loan agreement aimed at digitalizing and modernizing Ethiopia’s national electricity transmission network. Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance, Ahmed Shide, and France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot signed the agreement today in Addis Ababa. The strategic investment, financed by the French Treasury, is intended to strengthen Ethiopia’s energy infrastructure through advanced digital technologies. According to a statement issued by the French Embassy, the project will be implemented by GE Vernova France and RTE International in close collaboration with Ethiopian Electric Power. The initiative will focus on automating substations, improving grid asset management, and enhancing maintenance systems and training capacity at the National Grid Control Centre. The financing forms part of the 270 million Euro Renewable Integrated Sustainable Energy and Digitalization (RISED) programme, a flagship initiative under the European Union Global Gateway strategy. According to the embassy, the programme is designed to support Ethiopia’s green and digital transition by building a more resilient and sustainable power grid. The project is expected to expand electricity access to more than four million people while reducing the frequency and duration of power outages by 50 percent. It is also projected to support Ethiopia’s climate ambitions by cutting an estimated 150,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually and reducing energy losses through the modernization of ageing infrastructure.

Addis Ababa, May 13, 2026 —Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and French President Emmanuel Macron held substantive bilateral discussions at the National Palace in Addis Ababa today, focusing on a wide range of issues of mutual interest between Ethiopia and France. The leaders also oversaw the exchange of key cooperation agreements between the two countries, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties in the areas of sustainable development, energy, and digital transformation.   Among the agreements exchanged was a €54.6 million loan for the Renewable, Integrated, Sustainable Energy and Digitalization Program, aimed at supporting Ethiopia’s green energy transition and digital development agenda. In addition, the two sides exchanged a new Framework and Roadmap for the 150MW Geothermal Public–Private Partnership (PPP), designed to advance Ethiopia’s renewable energy expansion and attract private sector investment in geothermal power development.   Prime Minister Abiy, in a social media post, noted that the discussions and agreements reflect the growing partnership between Ethiopia and France and their shared commitment to sustainable growth and cooperation. The talks underscore deepening Ethiopia–France relations, particularly in strategic sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and technology.

Addis Ababa, May 13, 2026 —Africa is advancing plans to establish a continental credit rating institution aimed at addressing long-standing concerns over perceived biases in global rating systems, according to the African Union Commission. The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, said the continent is preparing to launch the Africa Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA) in Mauritius in June as part of broader efforts to reform the global financial architecture and improve Africa’s access to international capital markets.   Speaking at the 10th African Union–United Nations Annual Conference, Youssouf said existing international financial institutions, largely designed after the Second World War—no longer fully reflect Africa’s economic realities, development priorities, and financing needs. The proposed Africa Credit Rating Agency is expected to operate as an independent, private-sector-led institution under African Union backing. It will focus on providing context-sensitive credit assessments for African sovereign, sub-sovereign, and corporate borrowers. Officials say the initiative is intended to strengthen local capital markets, improve investor confidence, and potentially reduce borrowing costs across the continent.   Youssouf confirmed that the agency is expected to be formally launched in June in Mauritius, describing it as a key milestone in Africa’s push for financial sovereignty and reform of global credit rating structures. He said the initiative aligns with broader continental priorities, including the implementation of Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. During the conference, discussions also focused on peace and security, governance challenges, and the impact of global economic shifts on African economies. Youssouf expressed concern over ongoing conflicts in regions including Somalia, South Sudan, and the Sahel, warning that terrorism, separatist movements, and organized crime continue to undermine stability across the continent. He also highlighted delays in implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2719, saying they have limited Africa’s capacity to finance peacekeeping and conflict resolution operations. “Peacekeeping and conflict resolution is very costly,” he noted.   On the economic front, Youssouf warned that rising global food and fuel prices—driven in part by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East—are placing significant pressure on African economies. Citing preliminary assessments prepared with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, he said fuel prices have surged by up to 150 percent in some countries. He added that prolonged instability in strategic shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz could reduce GDP in several African economies by as much as 4 percent. Youssouf urged G7 nations to support mitigation measures for vulnerable economies, including mechanisms similar to the Special Drawing Rights introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also praised cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations, thanking UN Secretary-General António Guterres for supporting Africa’s development and peace priorities. Concluding his remarks, Youssouf reaffirmed Africa’s commitment to multilateral cooperation and called for stronger global partnerships to address the continent’s interconnected peace, security, and development challenges.