FDRE President Sahlework Zewde (left) and Vera Songwe (right) exchange pleasantries on their way out of a Tana Forum session (held from October 19-24, 2020) held to promote frank, relevant and candid dialogue on African security issues at the Sheraton Addis. This year’s session marks the 9th Tana Forum, albeit the event changing its usual venue in Bahir Dar city in caution of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tana high level forum on security in Africa is believed to be a unique gathering bringing together African intellectuals and leaders under an informal setting.
During her opening address, President Sahlework Zewde underscored the importance of the forum by stating: “we can’t afford to postpone Tana Forum until things get back to normal.” She further stated during the session that no country can grow confined into its own border.
Musa Faki Mahmat, Chairperson of the AU Commission, also participated in the event via a virtual platform. He made the welcoming and keynote speeches, during which he highlighted the African Continent Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA) as an achievement African countries will go beyond their national sovereignties for to build economic convergence, prosperity and development.
The Tana Forum concludes today after being in session for the past six days.