What changed
Ethiopia was elected on October 16, 2026, to chair the 78th session of the UNHCR Executive Committee. Ambassador Tsegab Kebebew Daka said the country would push for inclusive deliberations, consensus and stronger refugee protection after serving on the committee’s Bureau for two years.
Why it matters
The chairmanship puts Ethiopia at the centre of discussions about how the international refugee system responds to growing displacement and limited humanitarian resources. That role carries particular weight because Ethiopia hosts more than 1.2 million refugees and asylum seekers.
Daka tied Ethiopia’s diplomatic message to its domestic approach. He highlighted the Makatet Roadmap, which seeks greater refugee inclusion, self-reliance and access to national systems while also supporting host communities. His argument was practical: these ambitions need predictable international financing and meaningful partnerships.
Ethiopia is also using a long historical reference to define the principle it wants the committee to defend. Daka recalled the ancient Kingdom of Aksum’s protection of Muslims fleeing persecution in Mecca, describing the refusal to return them as an early example of non-refoulement, the rule against sending people back to persecution.
The important test will be whether Ethiopia can turn that language into focused committee work. The election itself brings no announced funding package or specific new policy decision, but it gives Ethiopia a platform to press for resource use and reform that strengthen UNHCR’s ability to protect refugees rather than reduce it.
Comments
No comments yet.