Horn of Africa Initiative Holds 25th Ministerial Meeting in Nairobi, Focuses on Digital Integration

July 14, 2025 — The 25th Ministerial Meeting of the Horn of Africa Initiative (HoAI) was convened today at the African Development Bank (AfDB) offices in Nairobi, bringing together high-level delegates from countries across the region, including Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan, and partners from the European Union and Germany.

The meeting, co-chaired by Somalia’s Finance Minister H.E. Bihi Egeh and AfDB Vice President Nnenna Nwabufo, focused primarily on accelerating digital integration across the Horn of Africa. This was the first meeting since Somalia assumed the HoAI chairmanship from Ethiopia.

Participants assessed the implementation progress of various HoAI regional programs and reviewed key policy actions agreed upon during the December 2023 meeting. Emerging issues affecting the region were also deliberated.

Strategic guidance was provided on how to create a more enabling environment for regional digital integration, with a shared goal of fostering coordinated efforts to tackle pressing digital and development challenges.

The Horn of Africa Initiative, launched in 2019, aims to enhance regional cooperation and market integration among Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Sudan. Its work is structured around four main pillars: improving regional infrastructure connectivity, promoting trade and economic integration, building climate resilience, and strengthening human capital development.

Today’s meeting marked another milestone in advancing shared regional goals through collaboration and dialogue.