By Henok Tadele Addis Ababa, February 7, 2026 (ENA)--When African leaders gathered in Addis Ababa in May 1963 to establish the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the choice of venue was deliberate. Ethiopia had long occupied a distinctive place in the African political imagination — not only because it preserved its sovereignty during the colonial era, but because it symbolized the possibility of African self-determination at a time when much of the continent was under foreign rule. Long before African unity became institutionalized, Ethiopia represented political continuity in a continent fragmented by imperial expansion. The Battle of Adwa in 1896 did more than secure Ethiopia’s independence; it challenged the prevailing colonial assumption that Africa could be partitioned without resistance. For anti-colonial leaders and intellectuals across Africa and in the diaspora, Ethiopia stood as proof that sovereignty could be defended. From Symbol to Institution Builder By the early 1960s, Africa was undergoing rapid transformation. Newly independent states were defining their political identities and seeking a framework for continental cooperation. The urgency for unity was clear. Addis Ababa provided both historic legitimacy and diplomatic space. Emperor Haile Selassie played a central role in convening leaders whose ideological differences could easily have derailed the process. The divisions between the Casablanca and Monrovia groups required careful negotiation. Ethiopia’s approach emphasized cohesion and consensus, helping to ensure that unity prevailed over fragmentation. The OAU Charter, signed on May 25, 1963, enshrined principles that would guide African diplomacy for generations — sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference, and solidarity against colonialism and apartheid. Ethiopia did not merely host the founding summit; it invested sustained political commitment in supporting the institution’s continuity and credibility. Addis Ababa soon evolved into more than a meeting venue. It became the diplomatic capital of Africa. Supporting Liberation and Continental Solidarity Throughout the liberation struggles in Southern Africa, Ethiopia offered diplomatic backing, advocacy, and consistent support for anti-colonial movements within the OAU framework. The eventual independence of several African nations and the dismantling of apartheid were shaped by coordinated continental efforts in which Ethiopia was an active participant. Ethiopia’s role was steady and institutional, reinforcing the conviction that African challenges required collective African responses. This principle became a defining feature of continental diplomacy. From the OAU to the African Union As Africa entered a new century, the transformation of the OAU into the African Union (AU) in 2002 marked a structural evolution in continental governance. The AU introduced stronger mechanisms for peace and security, economic integration, and political accountability. Ethiopia remained at the center of this transition. As host of the AU headquarters, including the modern complex inaugurated in 2012 — the country reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to African multilateralism. Addis Ababa continues to serve as the political heart of continental deliberation, where major decisions affecting Africa’s future are debated and shaped. Peacekeeping and Regional Responsibility Beyond institutional hosting, Ethiopia has been among the leading African contributors to UN and AU peacekeeping missions. Ethiopian forces have served in Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Abyei, and other areas requiring stabilization efforts. These contributions reflect a practical commitment to continental peace and security. Ethiopia has also engaged in diplomatic initiatives within the Horn of Africa and neighboring regions, recognizing that regional stability is inseparable from continental progress. Development and African Self-Reliance Ethiopia’s continental contribution has also extended into development policy. Its emphasis on infrastructure, renewable energy, industrialization, and regional power connectivity has aligned with broader African aspirations for economic transformation. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), financed largely through domestic resources, has been presented as an example of African self-financed development. It reflects a broader continental discussion about economic sovereignty and internal resource mobilization as pathways to long-term independence. Today, Addis Ababa hosts not only the AU Commission but also the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and numerous regional institutions. The city remains a central platform for dialogue on trade integration, including the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). An Enduring Continental Anchor Ethiopia’s national history has spanned monarchy, revolution, reform, and renewal. Through these transformations, its continental commitment has remained constant. For more than six decades, Addis Ababa has provided continuity, space, and diplomatic grounding for African cooperation. The OAU — and later the AU — required a stable political home. Ethiopia has fulfilled that role with consistency. In the history of African integration, Ethiopia offered early inspiration through resistance and later provided institutional shelter for unity to take shape. It helped give structure to the vision of continental solidarity — and continues to host the forum where Africa defines its collective future. Conclusion In the coming days, Addis Ababa will once again host African leaders as the African Union convenes to address key priorities, including water cooperation under Agenda 2063. The focus on sustainable water availability and governance and climate resilience highlights the urgency of collective African solutions to shared challenges. The fact that this dialogue takes place in Addis Ababa reflects enduring continuity. For decades, Ethiopia has provided the diplomatic space where continental priorities are debated and shaped. Ethiopia’s push for renewable energy and regional power interconnection further aligns with these goals. By expanding cross-border electricity links and supporting regional power pools, it has sought to advance energy security as a foundation for integration. As Africa confronts water, energy, and climate challenges, Addis Ababa once again stands at the center of continental deliberation, a forum where Africa defines its common future.

By Yordanos D. Addis Ababa, February 5, 2026 (ENA)—As climate pressure, rapid population growth, and rising energy demand reshape the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia is positioning renewable electricity at the center of regional transformation. The country is increasingly linking domestic electrification with cross-border power trade to promote regional integration and shared prosperity. Through the expansion of hydropower capacity, accelerated development of wind and solar energy, and the scaling-up of cross-border electricity trade, Ethiopia is transforming power infrastructure into a strategic pillar of economic development. Beyond its borders, the East African nation is also catalyzing regional diplomacy—while advancing its national ambition of achieving universal energy access by 2030. The strategy redefines regional cooperation by anchoring interdependence in clean power systems, with high-voltage transmission lines binding neighboring economies into a shared energy market. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has repeatedly projected electricity as both a driver of transformation and a diplomatic instrument. Speaking at the inauguration of the Aysha II Wind Energy Project on 31 January 2026, he said, “Electricity is not only power for our homes and businesses; electricity is power for peace, cooperation and shared prosperity across borders.” He added that regional interconnection creates “a future where our economies grow together rather than in isolation.” At the center of this vision stands the 5,150-megawatt Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the backbone of Ethiopia’s power system and a symbol of national self-reliance. Responding to questions from parliament on 3 February 2026, the Prime Minister stated, “It cannot be said that a government which successfully completed the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam without any external financing is incapable of carrying out major projects.” He added, “Every single birr of GERD was funded by Ethiopians alone.” He has emphasized that “development should not be a zero-sum game, especially when it comes to shared natural resources.” While hydropower will continue to dominate, diversification is accelerating. The 120-megawatt Aysha II Wind Project near the Djibouti border marks a key step. Inaugurated in the presence of regional leaders, the Prime Minister described it as “a symbol of our commitment to a diversified and climate resilient energy future.” Ethiopia’s grid expansion is turning the country into a regional power corridor. Kenya imports about 200 megawatts and plans to double that within five years through the 1,045-kilometer high-voltage transmission line linking the two countries. Djibouti relies heavily on Ethiopian power for its ports and logistics hubs, while new links with Tanzania, Somalia and South Sudan are expanding the Eastern Africa Power Pool and reducing costly diesel dependence. Analysts view this as a structural shift, with electricity becoming the backbone of regional markets and industry. Domestically, the National Energy Compact aims to raise electricity access to 75 percent and clean cooking access to nearly 58 percent by 2030. According to the 2025 Energy Access Survey, 65 percent of households have some form of electricity, but only 44 percent enjoy basic service. Ethiopia already generates more than 95 percent of its power from renewables. However, more than 92 percent of households still rely on traditional biomass for cooking, and reliability and financing constraints remain challenges. The Compact aligns with broader reform programs and Ethiopia’s net-zero 2050 commitment, focusing on access expansion, infrastructure investment, regional trade and financial sustainability. The plan targets raising generation capacity to 14,000 megawatts by 2030 and mobilizing over three billion dollars in private investment. Minister of Water and Energy Habtamu Itefa said, “We have made significant strides in providing power to remote areas,” noting over 320,000 new connections in six months. In the first half of 2025/26, electricity exports contributed to more than 5.1 billion dollars in export earnings. Finance Minister Ahmed Shide stated, “Energy integration is the cornerstone of stability in the Horn.” Diplomatic challenges remain, but officials reaffirm commitment to dialogue and shared benefits. Policy analyst Hana Bekele said diversification into wind and solar is “a risk management strategy that will determine the resilience of the entire regional grid.” In parallel, the government has launched the Made in Ethiopia initiative to localize the manufacture of wind and solar components, strengthening energy security and reducing exposure to global supply chain disruptions. With expanding hydropower, wind and geothermal projects, Ethiopia is positioning itself as a continental reference point for renewable development while strengthening peace through shared growth. As Ethiopia moves toward 2030 and prepares to host COP32 in 2027, it is advancing a model where renewable power drives growth, integration and stability across the Horn.