Ethiopia Must Sustain Regional Peace Role, Hailemariam Says

What changed

Former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn urged Ethiopia to sustain its role as a regional peace and security anchor at the 12th Tana High-Level Forum in Addis Ababa on October 28, 2026. He pointed to Ethiopia’s diplomatic engagement on Sudan, its continuing role in Somalia and efforts to advance peace at home, linking those responsibilities to a population of more than 130 million.

Why it matters

Hailemariam’s argument is that Ethiopia’s regional influence depends partly on its domestic stability. His prescription is direct: use open dialogue, negotiation and compromise to turn peace initiatives into tangible results, both inside Ethiopia and across the region.

That makes the speech more than a claim about diplomacy. It sets a test for Ethiopia’s role: whether calls for peace produce practical progress rather than remain statements from a conference platform. No new government measure or regional agreement was announced.

Hailemariam also defended the Tana Forum’s format. He said its value lies in allowing African leaders to speak candidly about security challenges, then producing recommendations and reports for the African Union. After 12 years, the forum’s continuing relevance rests on whether those frank discussions can keep feeding usable peace efforts.