Addis ababa: Ethiopia has reiterated its firm commitment to international humanitarian law and humanitarian disarmament. The remarks were made at a regional expert's workshop jointly organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Addis Ababa.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Director General of International Law Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yibekal Gizaw, opened the two-day workshop by stressing that legal instruments alone cannot guarantee compliance unless backed by political resolve. He emphasized that states must demonstrate political commitment to uphold legal frameworks, noting that despite near-universal acceptance of the Geneva Conventions, respect for core humanitarian norms remains under strain. Ethiopia, as a party to the Geneva Conventions and several disarmament treaties, has moved beyond formal ratification by enacting national legislation, establishing relevant institutions, and achieving measurable progress in disarmament efforts.
Ethiopia also serves as co-chair of the IHL and Peace workstream under the Global IHL Initiative, working to strengthen the nexus between humanitarian law and sustainable peace. The workshop gathered legal experts, policymakers, and humanitarian actors to explore practical measures to reinforce compliance with disarmament obligations and curb illicit arms flows across the continent.
Tewodros Alamrew, Deputy Secretary General and Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society, warned that emerging technologies are reshaping the battlefield and testing established humanitarian principles. He cited artificial intelligence, autonomous weapons, and cyber warfare as developments that blur the line between civilian and military targets. The Ethiopian Red Cross Society is working closely with public institutions, including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense, to expand awareness of humanitarian law among security forces, community leaders, and other stakeholders. Tewodros also highlighted the establishment of the School of Humanity, designed to promote human dignity, peaceful coexistence, and effective implementation of humanitarian principles.
Bruce Lorenz Biber, Head of the ICRC Delegation to the African Union, noted a troubling surge in armed conflicts, with over 40 percent of the world's 130 conflicts taking place in Africa. He expressed concern over the rising military spending and insufficient investment in compliance with international humanitarian law. Biber cautioned that illicit arms transfers, weakening adherence to disarmament treaties, and the use of heavy weapons in populated areas are eroding the distinction between civilians and military objectives, leading to displacement and protracted cycles of violence.
Col. Sheku Sesay, representing the African Union Silencing the Guns Secretariat, underscored the devastating impact of landmines, improvised explosive devices, and the proliferation of small arms across Africa. He expressed concern over the reemergence of landmines in countries previously declared mine-free, warning that withdrawals from key disarmament treaties risk reversing decades of progress. The disarmament remains central to the African Union's Silencing the Guns initiative under Agenda 2063.
The workshop is expected to produce practical recommendations that will contribute to the 2026 Global Recommendations on International Humanitarian Law and Disarmament, strengthening Africa's role in advancing a more humane and accountable security order.