Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim to meet AU Commission Chairperson, deliver special lecture in Addis Ababa

Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim meets AU Commission leadership in Addis Ababa and delivers a youth-focused lecture aimed at strengthening Afro-Malaysia partnerships (image source)

On the final day of his Ethiopia visit, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to meet African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf in Addis Ababa and deliver a special lecture focused on deepening Afro-Malaysia ties. The meeting will cap a three-day programme that emphasises partnership, youth engagement and inter-civilisational dialogue.

According to reports, the AU engagement is framed around cooperation and the AU’s role as the continent’s representative voice in global forums. Anwar’s keynote titled “Bridging Civilisations, Building Futures: Strengthening Afro-Malaysia Partnership for Shared Prosperity” is set for the Pan-African Youth Union and Ethiopia Youth Council, highlighting the administration’s push to cultivate long-term people-to-people links and economic collaboration with African partners.

The itinerary reportedly includes a courtesy call with the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, reflecting the multi-faith and multi-ethnic context of Ethiopia, and the emphasis on inclusive outreach during the visit. Officials have positioned the trip as a platform to discuss trade, investment and youth-focused initiatives alongside broader diplomatic priorities, against the backdrop of the AU’s evolving agenda on peace, development and integration.

Recent AU readouts note continued engagements with Ethiopian leadership and regional stakeholders around preventive diplomacy, humanitarian response and development coordination — a context that provides additional substance for Malaysia’s outreach and lecture themes. The AU Commission has reiterated its focus on conflicts in Sudan and the importance of parties in South Sudan adhering to peace agreements, signalling active continental dossiers that intersect with global partners’ interests.

Observers say the Addis programme aims to build momentum for practical cooperation — from education and skills to trade facilitation — while affirming the AU’s central role in continental initiatives. The youth-centred lecture is expected to touch on shared prosperity, technology and cultural exchange, positioning Malaysia’s engagement within a framework that prioritises inclusive growth and cross-regional partnership.

The visit’s final-day agenda — high-level AU talks, a youth lecture and community outreach — underscores a broader trend: Asian and African actors seeking diversified, mutually beneficial ties that extend beyond traditional donor-recipient paradigms. As the AU leans into continental integration and preventive diplomacy, partners like Malaysia are looking to align with Africa’s institutional architecture to support sustainable development and stability.