ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau brought the promise of an investment agreement with Ethiopia and $10 million to help empower African women to the table Saturday as he continued his bid to get African votes for Canada’s attempt to win a United Nations Security Council seat later this year.
Trudeau also spent the first full day of a three-day trip to Addis Ababa meeting with some of the African Union’s heaviest hitters in a series of tete-a-tetes on the sidelines of the union’s 33rd sessional meeting in Addis Ababa.
That included spending most of the morning with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for meetings and a private tour of a new public park and zoo on the grounds of the prime minister’s residence. The tour was notable for its length, and the ease with which both leaders strolled around the grounds, though Abiy gave no hints about where he is leaning in terms of the security council vote
Abiy did tell Trudeau Ethiopia is grateful to Canada’s support over the years.
“We Ethiopians have a deep sense of friendship to Canada,” he said.
Abiy has been named as one of the most influential leaders in Africa including by New Africa magazine in both 2018 and 2019, and Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people list of 2019. Last fall he was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Following a private meeting with Abiy, Trudeau noted the promise of Ethiopia’s fast growing economy and said their meetings were a chance to take Canada and Ethiopia’s relationship to the next level.
However it wasn’t until after he met with Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde for a working lunch at the presidential palace that he provided some detail about what that could mean.
Source: ctvnews