Moscow:Addis Ababa Former African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has lauded Ethiopia as a definitive model for continental progress, highlighting the nation's commitment to homegrown development and bold energy policies as exemplary in national self-determination.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Dlamini-Zuma, speaking in Moscow ahead of the Russia-Africa Summit, emphasized Ethiopia's significant role as the diplomatic "capital of Africa." She noted the nation's unique responsibility to lead by example, given her tenure at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa from 2012 to 2017. She underscored that Ethiopia should remain at the forefront of the "Africa We Want" vision—a continent that is integrated, peaceful, and prosperous, driven by its own citizens.
Dlamini-Zuma identified a lack of internal confidence as a primary obstacle to African development and pointed to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as a symbol of self-reliance, highlighting how Ethiopia constructed it without waiting for foreign intervention. She urged other African leaders to adopt a similar mindset, emphasizing the importance of local capacity and self-belief for true progress.
Additionally, she praised Ethiopia's rapid urban evolution and proactive energy policies, including the government's decision to ban the import of petrol and diesel vehicles, positioning the nation at the forefront of the global green energy transition. Dlamini-Zuma's remarks served as a call to action for self-reliance among African leaders as they gathered in Moscow to discuss the future of the Russia-Africa partnership.
