PRESS RELEASE
Embassy of The Federal Republic of Germany in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa, 15 July 2026 – State Secretary Dr. Géza Andreas von Geyr of the German Federal Foreign Office concluded a two-day official visit to Ethiopia and the African Union on 13 and 14 July.
After his meeting with Foreign Minister Dr. Gedion Timothewos, State Secretary Dr. von Geyr stated: “Ethiopia is a key partner for us in Africa, and we want to strengthen and further develop our relations in all areas. We are pleased that Ethiopia shares this view. My productive conversation with the Foreign Minister was marked by strong alignment on key issues, signalling a firm foundation for our partnership moving forward.” Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen cooperation in areas such as foreign investments, green energy, and qualified legal labor migration. He also emphasized Germany’s readiness to closely collaborate with Ethiopia as the host of COP32, reinforcing the shared commitment to climate action.
The State Secretary held the first strategic dialogue on foreign and security policy with AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Bankole Adeoye. The Strategic Dialogue between Germany and the African Union Commission was agreed upon between Foreign Minister Wadephul and AU Chairperson Youssouf in January 2026 in Addis Ababa, and endorsed by German Federal Chancellor Merz and AU Chairperson Youssouf in April 2026 in Berlin. Following his consultations in Addis Ababa, the State Secretary highlighted: “In these challenging times, Germany is opening a new chapter in its relations with the AU because of the AU’s pivotal role in maintaining continental and regional peace and security. Besides reaffirming our shared commitment to multilateralism, we discussed a wide range of topics, including the consequences of the war in Iran, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine – now in its 4.5th year – and peace and security in Africa, including in the Sahel and Great Lakes Regions, as well as in Sudan and Somalia.” As the AU’s largest bilateral partner, with investments exceeding 1 billion euros since 2002, Germany remains committed to strengthening the AU’s peace, security and governance architecture, by advancing ‘African-led solutions to African problems’.
In addition to his meetings with representatives of the Ethiopian government and the African Union Commission, State Secretary Dr. von Geyr visited the ‘Federal Technical and Vocational Training Institute’ in Addis Ababa, which will be part of a pilot initiative aimed at facilitating qualified legal labor migration, preparing a select group of students for vocational training in Germany.
Completing his visit to Ethiopia by visiting the National Museum, the Holy Trinity Cathedral, and the Fendika Cultural Center, he emphasized: “I was delighted to experience the unique and rich cultural heritage of Ethiopia – the cradle of humanity and a significant cultural and religious center – as well as Addis Ababa as a modern hub on the African continent.”
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