Ethiopia’s Foreign Policy in the Post-2018 Period: Understanding Drivers and Challenges

The post-2018 Ethiopian foreign policy has undergone a significant change. The paper used both primary and secondary sources for data collection. Primary data were gathered through interviews with key informants, while secondary data were obtained from various sources such as books, journal articles, official speeches, published and unpublished documents, and internet sources. The paper emphasizes that Ethiopian foreign policy underwent a significant change after the country embraced political reform in 2018 and the subsequent Ethio-Eritrea rapprochement, ushering in a new era of regional peace and cooperation in shared areas of interest. However, the initial rapprochement efforts were hindered by the signing of the Pretoria Peace Agreement between the Federal Government and the TPLF. Foreign policy has been greatly impacted by internal conflicts, diplomatic tensions, pressures, terrorism, and border disputes. These challenges are hindering the country's foreign relations and diplomatic goals, affecting Ethiopia's international reputation. In conclusion, based on the empirical discussions, the study suggests that Ethiopia's foreign policy should prioritize 'peace at home first' and pursue assertive diplomacy abroad.