Ethiopia, 6 January 2026 The African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Arab Emirates have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening strategic cooperation, following a high-level meeting held in Addis Ababa on Tuesday.
The meeting brought together Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of State, and built on the first round of political consultations held in Abu Dhabi in September 2025 under the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding.
In a joint statement, both sides reviewed progress achieved since the inaugural consultations, exchanged views on priority areas of cooperation, and reaffirmed their commitment to sustained political dialogue and an expanded UAE–AU partnership.
The officials emphasized the centrality of Agenda 2063, particularly the flagship initiative “Silencing the Guns by 2030,” as well as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), underlining the link between peace, security, trade and development. They agreed to intensify cooperation, noting that durable peace is essential for economic integration, while trade and investment contribute to stability and resilience across the continent.
Both sides welcomed the UAE’s launch of the $1 billion “AI for Development” initiative, announced at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg in November 2025, highlighting its potential to support Africa’s development priorities through innovation and digital transformation.
Discussions also covered peace and security dynamics in the Horn of Africa, with both parties stressing the close interdependence between stability in the region and security in the Arabian Gulf, particularly with regard to maritime security and regional prosperity.