The Horn of Africa is taking significant steps toward deeper global economic integration, as four of its countries—Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan—continue negotiations to join the World Trade Organization (WTO). These four nations represent half of all African countries currently seeking WTO membership and rank among the most active in the accession process, noted WTO Deputy Director-General Johanna Hill.
At the 24th Horn of Africa Initiative ministerial meeting held on 23 April in Washington D.C., DDG Hill highlighted recent progress, especially in the cases of Ethiopia and Somalia. Ethiopia held its fifth Working Party meeting in March, while Somalia reached a key milestone with its first Working Party meeting in February.
Hill emphasized Ethiopia’s “Homegrown Economic Reform Programme” launched in 2019 as a demonstration of the country’s strong commitment to economic transformation and the development of an open, rules-based economy. She noted that WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has identified Ethiopia’s accession as a strategic priority ahead of the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference in Cameroon in March 2026. As the largest economy currently outside the WTO and a key least-developed country in the accession pipeline, Ethiopia’s membership would mark a major step toward achieving universal WTO participation.
On Somalia, Hill praised the government’s strong political will and technical capacity, noting how its accession efforts align with its broader strategy of integration into the East African Community.
The meeting also served as a platform to advance a regional action plan focused on enhancing trade and economic cooperation across the Horn of Africa. Building on earlier commitments and technical discussions, the action plan aims to improve regional trade facilitation and connectivity. “Strengthening trade links can be a key piece in fostering regional integration and connectivity in the Horn of Africa,” said Hill.
Co-chaired by Ethiopia’s Finance Minister Ahmed Shide and the World Bank’s Acting Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa Amit Dar, the meeting gathered finance ministers and senior officials from across the region. A key highlight was the announcement of a USD 10 billion commitment from international development partners, including the African Development Bank, the European Union, Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the United Kingdom, and the World Bank.
The event concluded with Somalia’s Finance Minister Bihi Iman Egeh assuming the chairmanship of the Initiative for the next two years—signaling renewed momentum for collaboration and integration in the region.
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