AGP Executive Report

BRICS Summit in New Delhi: India’s 18th BRICS Summit opens in Bharat Mandapam with leaders including Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian and Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed, as the bloc tries to stay united amid Ukraine and West Asia tensions. India–Ethiopia talks: On the sidelines, PM Modi met Abiy Ahmed at Hyderabad House, reviewing economic cooperation, defence and security, capacity building, and reaffirming Ethiopia’s role in reinforcing the Global South voice. India–UAE push: Modi also met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, focusing on strengthening the India-UAE strategic partnership in trade and energy security as the UAE’s BRICS membership deepens logistics and investment links. Defence cooperation interest: Ethiopia and Malaysia signaled interest in stronger defence ties with India, including joint training and procurement discussions. Security and disruption in Delhi: Delhi Police arrested three people over alleged Singhu Border graffiti tied to a banned outfit, while security at the summit is heavily ramped up with thousands of personnel and dog squads; traffic curbs and possible rain add pressure for commuters. BRICS finance angle: Bank Indonesia urged BRICS members to expand local-currency payments and cross-border connectivity to reduce geopolitical and market shocks.

BRICS Summit in New Delhi: Leaders are converging for the 18th BRICS summit on Sept. 12-13, with India’s PM Modi hosting and holding key bilateral talks with Russia’s Putin and Iran’s Pezeshkian as the bloc tries to keep unity amid wars and West Asia tensions. Payments and local currencies: Iran urged BRICS to shift toward national currencies and stronger mechanisms to reduce currency-risk shocks, while India pushed payment-system links and digital trade at the BRICS Business Forum, including calls to connect UPI-style rails and simplify rules. Finance push: Putin pitched a New Development Bank-based investment platform to mobilize private funding for trade, logistics, infrastructure and technology across BRICS. Ethiopia in the mix: Ethiopia is among the expanded BRICS members and is also highlighted for AI progress, with IGAD officials saying Ethiopia’s AI experience could be shared regionally. Trade and logistics at home: Ethiopia inaugurated the expanded Mojo Dry Port, saying it will boost container capacity and cut logistics costs for a landlocked economy. Regional governance: AU and ATAF agreed to strengthen tax cooperation in Addis Ababa to curb illicit flows and improve domestic revenue mobilisation.

BRICS Summit in Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit, with China’s Xi Jinping set to join from Saturday and Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian also expected—while India’s PM Modi holds key bilateral talks with Putin and Pezeshkian and meets Xi next. The agenda is shaped by Ukraine and Middle East tensions, plus trade and energy security concerns, as members try to keep unity despite divisions. Ethiopia in the spotlight: Ethiopia’s PM Abiy Ahmed is listed among attending leaders, and Ethiopian officials are also linked to BRICS-related engagement. Ethiopia’s New Year coverage: Separate reporting marks Enkutatash (Meskerem 1) on Sept. 11, highlighting renewed development ambitions and national renewal as Ethiopia moves into the new year. Regional business ties: Ajman Chamber and Ethiopia discussed expanding agriculture, industry and tourism cooperation. Tech push for Ethiopia: Siemens and Redington announced industrial software access for Ethiopia and other African markets.

BRICS Summit Watch: India is pushing to link central bank digital currencies across BRICS for cross-border payments at the New Delhi summit on Sept. 12–13, but officials warn political and technical hurdles could slow progress; the agenda also centers on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability, with Ethiopia’s PM Abiy Ahmed among top leaders expected. Ethiopia’s New Year Diplomacy: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed urged unity and renewal in his Ethiopian New Year message, highlighting dialogue gains and national projects, while Germany, Finland and Denmark extended New Year wishes to Ethiopians through embassy visits with children’s songs. Connectivity for Addis Ababa: Xiamen Airlines plans its Africa debut with a weekly seasonal Addis Ababa route starting Nov. 28, adding nonstop links to China’s mainland cities. Education Policy: Ethiopia is expanding boarding secondary schools, aiming for 50 modern boarding schools as only a tiny share of existing schools meet national standards. Public Health: A CDC-supported study in Ethiopia and other countries found most stillbirths and young child deaths were preventable or possibly preventable with care already available.

BRICS Summit in focus: India is set to host the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on Sept. 12–13 at Bharat Mandapam, with Ethiopia’s PM Abiy Ahmed among confirmed leaders and Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin expected to attend; the agenda centers on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability, with a business forum drawing major global firms. Security and logistics: Delhi has stepped up hotel and police security around Chanakyapuri, with tens of thousands of personnel deployed for the leaders’ arrivals and movement. Aviation insurance oversight: Nigeria’s aviation regulators NAICOM and NCAA signed an MoU to strengthen compliance and aviation insurance oversight—an example of tighter risk management in the region. Education under attack: Education Above All (EAA) marked the International Day to Protect Education from Attack with “The Crosswalk” campaign in Paris and Geneva, highlighting rising attacks on schools and universities. Ethiopia spotlight: A separate report ranks Addis Ababa among the world’s most climate-resilient cities, while another story highlights climate-smart farming research in Ethiopia that boosts wheat yields and cuts soil loss.

BRICS Summit Watch: India is set to host the 18th BRICS Leaders Summit in New Delhi on Sept. 12–13, with leaders from the bloc’s 11 full members—including Ethiopia—expected to focus on resilience in food, energy and health, disaster reduction, and critical supply chains, while also pushing trade, investment and reforms to global institutions. Ethiopia’s Reform Push: Finance Minister Ahmed Shide met AIIB President Zou Jiayi to expand cooperation on infrastructure, energy and climate-resilient development, including potential AIIB support for projects like Bishoftu International Airport. EU Backs Reforms: The EU reaffirmed support for Ethiopia’s economic modernization drive, highlighting expanded cooperation in digital infrastructure, renewable energy, public health, climate action and green transition. Tech Sovereignty: Prime Minister Abiy urged African leaders and youth to embrace technological sovereignty and shape Africa’s digital future, marking AU Day. Climate Risk Alert: El Niño is strengthening, with East Africa facing higher flood risk; WHO and Kenya are ramping up health preparedness for the 2026/27 rainy season. Climate Resilience Ranking: Addis Ababa ranked second globally for climate resilience in a new AlphaGeo assessment, behind Chicago. Regional Security Lens: Analysts warn Sudan’s war is tightening regional security pressures on Ethiopia as conflict networks converge across borders. Cyber Threat: Iran-linked Mirage Kitten is targeting software engineers with fake LinkedIn job offers and trojanized coding tests, with victims identified in Ethiopia among other countries.

BRICS Summit Countdown: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will travel to New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit on Sept. 12–13, with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and cabinet officials joining; the Philippines says the visit will highlight ASEAN priorities on peace and security, people empowerment, and prosperity. Ethiopia–Qatar Ties: Ethiopia’s president met Qatar Chamber officials in Dubai to discuss boosting trade, investment, and private-sector cooperation. AU Mediation Under Strain: Rising federal–TPLF tensions in northern Ethiopia are testing the AU’s ability to turn early warning into action, with disputes over territories, displaced people, and disarmament still unresolved. Tigray Security Update: A reported drone strike in Hintalo woreda, southern Tigray, left multiple casualties, with claims and tolls still emerging amid wider diplomatic friction. FX Policy Debate: Ethiopia’s remittance surge is highlighted, but analysts warn hawala and parallel markets persist because official exchange rates still don’t match what people can actually get. Climate Finance Push for COP31: An African civil society leader urged stronger climate finance, adaptation, and food-systems outcomes at COP31, stressing that hosting a summit won’t help unless agendas are shaped by African priorities. Health & Climate Readiness: WHO and Kenya are stepping up preparedness for El Niño-related flooding, focusing on surveillance, safe water, and emergency response.

Ethiopia–Qatar Investment Push: President Taye Atske Selassie met Qatar Chamber board member Ali bin Abdullatif al-Misnad in Dubai, urging Qatari investors into agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure and digital sectors. Construction Reform: Ethiopia is overhauling 1990s construction guidelines to curb chronic delays and inconsistent oversight. Housing Finance Debate: An IFC-backed mortgage push is framed as a maturity fix, but affordability hinges on interest rates and household capacity. Nile Basin Water Politics: Former water minister Alemayehu Tegenu says the Nile Basin CFA can proceed even without Egypt’s signature, arguing the legal basis is already set. AU–ATAF Tax Drive: The AU and ATAF plan to plug tax loopholes and strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation across Africa. Human Rights at HRC63: Ethiopia reaffirmed nationally owned reforms and transitional justice at the UN Human Rights Council. Security and Drones: Ethiopia’s domestic drone production is expanding after Turkish UAVs proved decisive; meanwhile, a Sudan drone strike killed 13 near a courthouse. Mobility Tech: Orbix launched a digital platform for EV integration, targeting 500,000 vehicles. Trial Watch: South Africa’s Mapisa-Nqakula corruption case turns on a “wig” claim tied to an alleged R300,000 bribe. Climate Data Alert: More than 20 African countries still miss WHO air pollution guidelines, per a new continent-wide brief.

BRICS Summit Countdown: India is gearing up to host the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on Sept. 12–13, with the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” and preparations already causing expected traffic and security disruptions. Ethiopia-Regional Diplomacy: Ethiopia’s President Taye Atske-Selassie and COMESA have congratulated Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema on re-election, underscoring continued regional engagement. Public Health in Focus: The WHO launched a Regional Health Data Hub in Addis Ababa to connect fragmented health information across Africa, helping countries act faster on outbreaks and maternal/child health needs. Media Freedom Debate: A rights-focused report warns Ethiopia is increasingly treating independent journalism as a national security threat, amid tensions tied to unresolved conflict and political questions. Mining Safety Shock: KEFI has suspended work at its Tulu Kapi gold project in western Ethiopia after a security incident with fatalities, pending a safe environment review. Connectivity Policy Watch: Starlink remains unlicensed in Ethiopia despite satellite internet spreading across parts of Africa, with the Ethiopian regulator citing no licensing talks. Climate Action Push: An African climate conference in Addis Ababa stressed moving from pledges to implementation, with agriculture and food systems central to negotiations.

BRICS Summit Watch: Ethiopia is sending a delegation to the 3rd BRICS Sherpa meeting in New Delhi as India prepares the 18th BRICS Summit on Sept. 12–13, with discussions aimed at shaping the leaders’ declaration. Aviation & Trade: The U.S. Development Finance Corporation is set to back SME lending tied to Ethiopia’s new Bishoftu International Airport, as Ethiopian Airlines moves toward talks for 8–10 Boeing 777 freighters to boost cargo capacity. Clean Energy Push: President Taye says Ethiopia wants to expand clean power and electricity exports across the East African Power Pool, targeting major renewable generation growth by 2030. TVET Upgrade: Ethiopia is validating a digital TVET curriculum with support from partners including UNESCO and Korea, focusing on skills for a changing labour market. Regional Security: Tigray rebels accuse AU envoy Olusegun Obasanjo of lacking impartiality in peace talks amid renewed fears of conflict. Economy & Business: Ethiopia’s Red Sea logistics remain heavily routed through Djibouti, with officials citing continued corridor pressure and higher freight costs. Human Stories: Ethiopia’s PM Abiy extends condolences over the death of Tanzania’s First Gentleman, Hafidh Ameir Hassan.

BRICS Summit Focus: India’s BRICS chairship for 2026 is set for Sept 12-13 in New Delhi, with “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability” as its main pillars, while officials say expansion is unlikely due to lack of consensus and West Asia differences. Nile/GERD Diplomacy: China’s endorsement of Egypt’s right to protect water and food security adds visibility to Cairo’s position in the GERD dispute, even as Beijing keeps a calibrated stance. Trade & Taxes: India’s GST Council meeting was postponed from Sept 12 to Oct 7 because of the BRICS summit, with possible changes to GST registration and automation. Ethiopia Economy: Ethiopia marked Pagume’s “Day of Break Through” with claims of stronger reforms and food sovereignty progress, while livestock export earnings hit $128.3m and officials push to scale abattoir capacity. Health & Protection: UNICEF warns 20 million children face online sexual abuse, and a separate report highlights Africa’s maternal deaths remain largely preventable but tied to delays and weak facility readiness. Migration: Uganda is emerging as a major IGAD destination and transit hub for migrants, with non-residents dominating border crossings.

Ethiopia’s Pagume push for self-reliance: Deputy PM Temesgen Tiruneh says Ethiopia is moving toward greater prosperity through macro reforms, modern farming and higher domestic production, while PM Abiy links the Day of Break Through to wheat gains and Made in Ethiopia initiatives. Investment drive abroad: President Taye leads a high-level Ethiopian delegation to Dubai for the 15th Annual Investment Meeting, with focus on digital economy, sustainable development and new partnerships. Livestock export momentum: Ethiopia’s livestock export earnings hit $128.3m, and officials say abattoir capacity is underused, with targets to lift utilization and reach $1bn potential. Horn of Africa connectivity: Kenya and Somalia agree to operationalize the Isiolo–Mandera corridor extension into Somalia via a joint technical committee under the Horn of Africa Gateway project. Regional finance watch: India’s GST Council meeting is rescheduled to Oct 7 due to the BRICS summit in New Delhi, where Ethiopia is among participants. Digital harm concern: UNICEF reports about 20m children aged 12–17 across 21 countries have faced technology-facilitated sexual abuse, including Ethiopia. Consular community news: Ethiopia’s New Year celebrations in Bahrain highlight cultural ties and consular service upgrades.

Education Crisis: Ethiopia’s university admission results remain dismal, with the Ministry of Education reporting a 12.8% pass rate for Grade 12—leaving nearly nine out of 10 candidates short of entry grades. Public Health: Federal health officials are preparing a nationwide three-month blood lead survey covering 10,500 people to map childhood exposure, where current data is patchy. Telecom & Disaster Readiness: Ethio Telecom set a 295 billion birr revenue target for 2026/27 and earmarked 8.1 billion birr for the National Disaster Risk Response Fund under its “Next Horizon” strategy. Power & Trade: Ethiopia’s electricity exports earned 118.1 million dollars in 2024/25 and helped cut Djibouti’s power costs, with a World Bank push for cross-border grid links. Miss World Spotlight: Ethiopia’s Ruth Yirgalem Weldesilasie says she will turn her sister’s murder into purpose as she heads to the Miss World finale in Vietnam. Digital Health in the Region: Kenya’s digital health reforms and AI-assisted tools are expanding access, with the WHX platform highlighted as a key bridge between policy and care. Energy Infrastructure Watch: Experts warn Africa must invest faster in efficient, digitalised electricity grids as demand rises and losses remain high.

IGAD AI Push: Ethiopia says it has built globally competitive AI capabilities, with IGAD urging a regional framework after a visit to the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute. BRICS Justice Dialogue: India’s CJI Surya Kant called for BRICS to become a “living Nalanda University,” stressing healthy disagreement and timely, predictable justice as the bloc’s judicial forum opens in New Delhi. Tigray Ceasefire Strains: Reporting suggests Ethiopia’s Pretoria hostilities pause is weakening, with renewed drone strikes and clashes raising fears for Tigray’s fragile recovery. Somalia Joins AfCFTA: Somalia became the 50th country to ratify the African Continental Free Trade Area, with Addis-based AU officials backing the next step of customs and tariff preparations. US Eyes Bigger Somalia Role: The US plans to expand its Bosaso facility in Puntland to strengthen counter-terrorism and maritime security operations. Child Safety Online: UNICEF data highlights very high exposure to technology-facilitated sexual abuse in Eastern and Southern Africa, with Kenya and Ethiopia among the worst affected. Ethiopia Sea Access Debate: Opposition figure Berhanu Nega argues sea access is an inevitable national imperative tied to security, trade, and Ethiopia’s growing population. AU Map Accuracy Win: The AU welcomed UN adoption of a “correct the map” resolution to replace Mercator-style distortions of Africa’s size. Finance Watch: Ethiopia’s state Commercial Bank of Ethiopia posts a sharp profit jump in its audited 2025 results, driven by higher income and major reversals of impairment losses. Housing Court Freeze: Ethiopia’s Federal High Court reaffirmed an injunction blocking sale or transfer of 32 Noah Real Estate homes while homebuyers’ legal case proceeds.

BRICS Justice Diplomacy: India’s CJI Surya Kant opened the BRICS Chief Justices’ Forum in New Delhi, stressing stronger judicial cooperation and proposing a shared arbitration and mediation platform to settle commercial disputes, with bilateral talks held with leaders from Russia, China, Egypt, South Africa and others. Ethiopia–U.S. Talks: Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos met U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Frank Garcia to discuss expanding trade, investment and security cooperation. Nile Mediation Offer: Italy’s FM Antonio Tajani said Rome is ready to mediate between Egypt and Ethiopia on Nile waters if both sides agree, citing Italy’s ties with Addis Ababa and Cairo. Digital Ports Upgrade: Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics launched a digital customer self-service platform for cargo tracking, booking, demurrage, payments and complaints, aiming to cut paper-based procedures. Livestock Exports Push: Ethiopia reported livestock export earnings of $128.3m and targets $1bn, citing low abattoir capacity use and supply-chain constraints. Tigray Rights Alarm: Reports from East Wollega claim at least 68 deaths and church burnings amid clashes involving Abiy-allied forces. Sports—Kenya’s Wanyonyi: Emmanuel Wanyonyi’s 1000m world record was officially ratified, and he also won the 800m at the Brussels Diamond League final.

Doping Watch: Athletics Integrity Unit banned Ethiopia’s Tiruye Mesfin for three years after abnormalities in her Athlete Biological Passport suggested blood doping, while Uganda’s Harbert Kibet was provisionally suspended over steroid findings. Ethiopia–U.S. Diplomacy: Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos met U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frank Garcia to discuss expanding trade, investment, and defense and security cooperation. Logistics Modernization: Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics (ESL) launched a digital customer self-service platform for cargo tracking, booking, demurrage management, digital payments, and AI chatbot support. Livestock Exports Push: Ethiopia’s livestock export earnings rose to $128.3m, with officials urging capacity use to climb and supply-chain bottlenecks to be addressed to reach $1bn. Horn of Africa Security: Sudan’s army said it repelled RSF/SPLM-N-Al Hilu attacks in Blue Nile, while a Sudanese official accused Ethiopia of hosting RSF training camps near the border. Regional Humanitarian Strain: IOM warned Ethiopian migrants stranded in Yemen face worsening hunger and abuse as borders tighten. Judicial Cooperation: BRICS Chief Justices’ Forum opened in New Delhi with Ethiopia among participants, focusing on arbitration, commercial courts, and AI in justice. Addis Ababa Travel Alerts: South Korea’s foreign ministry said special travel advisories for parts of Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa were lifted after no Ebola cases were found.