Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed confirmed hosting President Ruto through a statement shared on social media platform X, describing the visit as a reflection of the strong historical ties between the two countries.
“Today, I welcomed President William Ruto of Kenya for a one-day working visit, reflecting the deep, historic, and brotherly relations between our two nations,” Prime Minister Abiy said.
According to Abiy, discussions between the two leaders centered on enhancing cooperation between Kenya and Ethiopia, with particular emphasis on peace and security in the Horn of Africa.
“During our meeting, we focused on strengthening bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional peace and security, reaffirming our shared commitment to stability, dialogue, and African-led solutions,” he added.
President Ruto last visited Ethiopia in September to attend the second Africa Climate Summit, which brought together African leaders to discuss climate action and sustainable development on the continent.
During the Addis Ababa summit, Ruto launched a report titled “From Nairobi to Addis Ababa: Africa’s Journey of Climate Action and Partnership,” which assessed progress made since the inaugural climate summit held in Nairobi and outlined future climate action strategies.
He also witnessed the signing of the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative (AGII) cooperation framework, a partnership involving African governments, financiers, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, and private sector players.
Beyond the summit, the president participated in high-level business engagements on Africa’s debt sustainability and partnerships with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
Additionally, Ruto presided over the inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Africa’s largest hydroelectric power plant built on the Blue Nile River at a cost of approximately $5 billion.
Kenya stands to benefit from the project through the Ethiopia-Kenya power interconnector, which supplies clean and affordable electricity to enhance energy security, stabilise power supply during droughts, and support industrial growth.
State House noted that regional power links, including the Kenya-Tanzania interconnector, are critical to strengthening energy trade, improving grid stability, and advancing East Africa’s regional integration.
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