In a world where global tensions are running high and conflicts seem to flare up in every corner, the call for peace and stability feels more urgent than ever. For Africa—a continent rich with promise but also facing its own security and governance challenges—these global shifts bring both risks and opportunities.

The 11th session of the Tana Forum is set to take place from October 24 to 26, 2025, in Ethiopia’s historic Bahir Dar and the capital, Addis Ababa. The gathering promises to be a crucial moment for the Horn of Africa and the continent as a whole.

Bahir Dar and Lake Tana: Where History Meets Vision

Let’s start with the setting. Bahir Dar isn’t just a scenic city—it’s home to Lake Tana, the largest highland lake in Ethiopia and the source of the Blue Nile. The Lake is recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It is famous for its many islands and peninsulas, which host ancient churches and monasteries, with many dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. With its historical roots, the location adds symbolic weight to the discussions that unfold each year on its shores.

The 2025 forum will be opened on Friday in Bahir Dar before moving to the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum in Addis Ababa—a powerful link between Ethiopia’s proud history of resilience and the continent’s shared aspirations for the future. The setting beautifully mirrors what the forum stands for: connecting Africa’s past triumphs with its future ambitions.

Zeroing In on Africa’s Security Landscape

Each year, the Forum addresses a specific theme—such as climate-security nexus, governance and leadership, terrorism, migration, or cyber threats—helping African policymakers stay ahead of emerging and transnational security issues. One of the focus areas for this year is the Horn of Africa, a region where complex conflicts, fragile states, and intense geopolitical interests often intersect.

The gathering will bring together high-level dignitaries, ministers of foreign affairs, and—marking a first — special envoy from across the continent and beyond.

The goal? To encourage honest, solution-driven dialogue that fosters cooperation and addresses shared security concerns in one of Africa’s most strategically important regions.

Since its inception, the Tana Forum has stood out as a safe, open space for African leaders, policymakers, and experts to talk candidly about the continent’s toughest security issues—from violent extremism and terrorism to border disputes and competition over natural resources.

But the forum goes beyond just identifying problems. It emphasizes holistic solutions that blend political, economic, and social strategies while encouraging partnerships between governments and communities. In doing so, it helps craft responses that are practical, sustainable, and uniquely African.

Strengthening Cooperation across the Continent

Another key strength of the Tana Forum lies in how it helps strengthen regional and continental collaboration. The Forum promotes collective security thinking—emphasizing that Africa’s security challenges are interconnected and require regional cooperation. It fosters partnerships among governments, regional bodies (like IGAD, ECOWAS, and SADC), and non-state actors.

It also supports the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). It complements the APSA, the AU’s framework for conflict prevention and management. It feeds ideas, lessons, and innovative approaches into AU organs such as the Peace and Security Council and the Panel of the Wise. By supporting the African Union’s peace and security initiatives, the forum creates opportunities for regional organizations and international partners to align their efforts.

And yet, it never loses sight of Africa’s agency. The forum’s conversations are grounded in the belief that Africa should lead its own security agenda, drawing on international support without surrendering ownership of its challenges—or its solutions.

 ‘African Solutions to African Problems’—In Action

At its heart, the Tana Forum embodies the well-known principle of “African Solutions to African Problems.” It’s more than just a slogan—it’s a commitment to self-determination.

This year’s theme, “Africa in an Evolving Global Order,” captures that perfectly. As global power structures shift and new challenges like climate change and leadership transitions emerge, Africa’s ability to navigate these changes together will be critical.

The Tana Forum stands out precisely because of its informal, collaborative atmosphere. Think of it as the modern-day version of the old African gatherings under the Baobab tree—a place where leaders can speak frankly, exchange ideas, and get to the heart of complex issues.

From relaxed seating to informal dress codes (former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, the forum’s Chairperson, famously takes off his boubou to invite others to “ditch the tie and roll up your sleeves”), everything is designed to encourage open, human conversation. It’s high-level diplomacy—without the stiffness.

A Blend of Ideas and Action

Another hallmark of the Tana Forum is its ability to blend academic insight with real-world experience. Policymakers, scholars, and practitioners sit side by side, ensuring that the discussions aren’t just theoretical but action-oriented and policy-relevant.

This combination makes the forum a breeding ground for ideas that can genuinely influence how Africa approaches peace, governance, and development.

Looking Beyond Security: Pan-Africanism and Global Influence

The 2025 session won’t just focus on security—it will also take a wider lens to explore Pan-Africanism in the 21st century. One key topic on the agenda is how Africa can claim a stronger voice in global governance, including renewed calls for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

This conversation reflects a growing realization: Africa’s destiny is deeply tied to global shifts, and the continent must play an active role in shaping those changes—not just reacting to them.

A Forum for the Future

For over a decade, the Tana Forum has been a trusted platform for tackling Africa’s most pressing security and governance challenges. But as Lettie T. Longwe, Head of the Tana Forum Secretariat, notes, this year’s event comes at a critical juncture. In a world of uncertainty, Africa must take bold, strategic steps to secure its future. And that’s exactly what the Tana Forum is designed to do—bring people together to think, collaborate, and act.

A Beacon of Hope for Africa and Beyond

In the end, the Tana Forum is more than just another conference. It’s a symbol of hope, leadership, and unity—a reminder that Africa’s path to peace and stability lies in its own hands. The Forum is significant because it deepens African ownership, promotes constructive and open dialogue, and strengthens the link between governance and security. It serves as a continental think space that helps shape Africa’s peace and security agenda in a rapidly changing world.

As global attention turns to Ethiopia’s historic city of Bahir Dar this week, the forum will once again reaffirm what it has always stood for: Africa’s commitment to peace, cooperation, and self-determination in an ever-changing world.