China Pledges Military Aid and Counterterrorism Support at Horn of Africa Peace Summit
Kampala – Sudanhorizon
The Third Conference on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa was officially opened on Tuesday at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in the Ugandan capital, Kampala. The event brings together key stakeholders from across the region and beyond to chart a path toward lasting peace and sustainable development.
According to Uganda’s The Diplomat newspaper, the high-level meeting—scheduled to last three days—is an initiative of the Chinese government and includes representatives from eight Horn of Africa countries: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. Delegations from major international and regional organizations are also attending, including the United Nations, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the East African Community.
The conference was officially inaugurated by Uganda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. John Mulimba, who praised China’s continued engagement with Africa. He commended China’s Global Security Initiative, describing it as aligned with Africa’s priorities on collective security, sovereignty, and inclusive development.
Mr. Mulimba stated, “China’s approach—based on mutual respect, dialogue, and comprehensive solutions—provides a valuable framework for regional stability.”
The Chinese delegation is led by Mr. Xue Bing, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government for the Horn of Africa, who affirmed China’s strong commitment to supporting peace and development in the region.
Envoy Xue outlined three core pillars of China’s engagement: promoting dialogue to ensure peace and security; harnessing cooperation for shared prosperity; and deepening mutual learning in governance while upholding international fairness and justice.
“China will continue to work closely with Horn of Africa nations through military assistance, support for counterterrorism efforts, landmine clearance, and the training of military personnel,” said Mr. Xue.
He also announced China’s readiness to negotiate and sign the China-Africa Economic Partnership for joint development, and to expand duty-free access to 100% of tariff lines from 53 African countries. Beijing will also encourage Chinese enterprises to localize investments in Africa to boost industrial value addition and create jobs.
The conference will review progress under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and address priority areas including regional connectivity and infrastructure, industrial development, climate resilience, food security, multilateralism, and global governance.
The forum is expected to adopt recommendations to strengthen regional peace frameworks and unlock economic potential through coordinated partnerships.
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