Liu Xianfa meets with Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Gedion Timotheos in Addis Ababa to discuss regional peace and security
Borkena Desk
TORONTO, Canada — Chinese Special Envoy to Africa Liu Xianfa arrived in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on Wednesday.
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Foreign Minister Gedion Timotheos met with the envoy to discuss regional peace and security.
According to the ministry, Minister Gedion briefed Mr. Xianfa on the current security situation in the Horn of Africa.
China reaffirmed its commitment to playing a constructive role in promoting peace and security across the continent.
The visit follows recent reports that two senior Chinese diplomats scheduled visits to Asmara and Addis Ababa.
Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have deteriorated significantly, with both governments trading accusations and appealing to the United Nations Security Council. Ethiopia accused Eritrea of invading its territory and notified the UN Security Council of its intent to exercise self-defense if Eritrean troops do not withdraw.
Eritrea accused Ethiopia of preparing an invasion to secure sovereign access to the sea.
While the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry did not detail China’s specific stance, several international actors, including Russia, have offered mediation services in recent weeks to resolve the dispute.
In late September, the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) launched a military operation in the Tigray region targeting the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which formed an alliance with Eritrea known as “Tsemdo.”
Although the ENDF did not issue an official status report, regional sources indicate federal forces cleared TPLF forces from significant portions of the Tigray region. During the operation, federal troops clashed with Eritrean forces inside Tigray—clashes Eritrea has not confirmed. ENDF units currently operate along the border.
Opposition reports and TPLF media outlets claim that ENDF units remain pinned down near the border area.
Additionally, Ethiopia completed a $3.5 billion arms procurement deal with Russia this week. Sources state the procurement includes 12 Sukhoi Su-35 multirole fighter jets and four S-400 long-range air defense missile system batteries. Eritrea characterized the acquisition as direct war preparation.
Hu Changchun, Head of the Chinese Mission to the African Union and Economic Commission for Africa, is expected to arrive in Eritrea this week, according to sources
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