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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — In a powerful gesture symbolizing friendship, solidarity, and the enduring bonds between the peoples of South Sudan and Ethiopia, Hon. Adut Salva Kiir, Senior Presidential Envoy on Special Programs, has planted tree seedlings at the allocated land designated for President Salva Kiir’s Village of Legacy in Addis Ababa.

Her Excellency Adut Salva Kiir, alongside Hon. Ambassador Dr. James Piti Morgan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of South Sudan, participated in the tree-planting initiative, planting guava tree seedlings as a lasting symbol of hope, peace, cooperation, and shared responsibility for the environment.The tree-planting activity was conducted under Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative, championed by H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, which has emerged as a significant national environmental campaign promoting tree planting, environmental protection, climate resilience, and sustainable development.

Planting Trees, Planting Friendship

The participation of South Sudanese leaders in Ethiopia’s Green Legacy initiative carries a meaning that extends far beyond the planting of trees. Each seedling planted at President Salva Kiir’s Village of Legacy represents a living connection between two neighboring nations whose histories, cultures, and peoples have been linked for generations.

The trees planted today are intended to grow alongside the relationship between South Sudan and Ethiopia—deepening their roots, expanding their branches, and providing future generations with a tangible reminder of the friendship and solidarity shared by the two sisterly nations.

Hon. Adut Salva Kiir and Ambassador Dr. James Piti Morgan expressed their commitment to protecting and caring for the trees planted at the site, ensuring that this contribution becomes a lasting green legacy of friendship and cooperation.

President Salva Kiir’s Village of Legacy

The designated site for President Salva Kiir’s Village of Legacy is envisioned not simply as a physical location, but as a place where the history, sacrifices, culture, traditions, and aspirations of South Sudan can be preserved and shared with future generations.

The vision includes the establishment of a Library and Cultural Heritage Centre dedicated to documenting, preserving, and showcasing the history and cultural heritage of South Sudan, while also highlighting the longstanding historical and people-to-people connections between South Sudan and Ethiopia.

Such a center could become an important platform for education, cultural exchange, historical research, knowledge sharing, and youth engagement. It would also provide an opportunity for visitors, scholars, students, diplomats, researchers, and members of the wider international community to learn about South Sudan’s journey, its rich cultural traditions, and its relationship with Ethiopia.

A Bridge Between Two Sisterly Nations

The Village of Legacy can become more than a monument to history. It can serve as a bridge between generations and between nations. The planting of the guava seedlings provides a particularly meaningful beginning. A tree starts as a small seedling, yet with care, time, and commitment, it becomes strong enough to provide shade, fruit, and shelter. In much the same way, the friendship between South Sudan and Ethiopia requires continuous nurturing, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to a peaceful and prosperous future.

The initiative therefore carries a message that resonates beyond national borders: when nations plant together, they create something that future generations can inherit together.

A Legacy for Future Generations

For Hon. Adut Salva Kiir, the tree-planting ceremony represents a personal and national contribution to a legacy that will outlive the present generation. For Ethiopia, the participation of South Sudanese leaders in the Green Legacy Initiative reflects the inclusive and regional spirit of an environmental campaign whose significance extends beyond Ethiopia’s borders.

And for South Sudan, the Village of Legacy offers an opportunity to preserve the story of a nation and to celebrate the bonds that connect its people with their Ethiopian neighbors.

As these newly planted guava trees grow in the soil of Addis Ababa, they will stand as living witnesses to a moment of cooperation between two sisterly countries.

The trees are not merely planted in the ground; they are planted in history.

 Their roots will symbolize friendship.

Their branches will symbolize cooperation.

Their growth will symbolize hope.

And their enduring presence will remind future generations that the strongest legacies are those built together.

The vision of President Salva Kiir’s Village of Legacy is therefore one that looks

simultaneously to the past, present, and future—honoring history, strengthening friendship today,

and creating a lasting foundation for generations yet to come.

From South Sudan to Ethiopia, a tree has been planted. From friendship to legacy, a new

chapter has begun.

Xiamen Airlines is set to make its historic entry into the African aviation market, anchoring its maiden route with long-haul Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Beginning November 28, the Chinese carrier will launch a weekly seasonal service connecting Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN) to Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD).

Running through February 28, 2027, the deployment of the widebody twin-engine jet marks a major milestone as the carrier expands its intercontinental footprint.

Currently, no other carrier serves this specific airport pair, giving Xiamen Airlines a strategic advantage. While point-to-point traffic between the two cities has historically been modest, the Ethiopian capital serves as the continent’s primary gateway for nonstop China-Africa capacity.

Industry analysts note that the route is heavily oriented toward capturing connecting traffic, allowing passengers from across Xiamen’s domestic and regional network to seamlessly feed into onward destinations throughout Africa via Addis Ababa.

The introduction of the Boeing 787-8 on the Addis Ababa link aligns with a broader, aggressive expansion of Xiamen Airlines’ international schedule. Bolstered by rising global demand and growing network capacity through the winter season, the SkyTeam alliance member aims to strengthen commercial and travel ties between China and East Africa.

A coalition of 41 nations issued an urgent appeal at the 63rd regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, focusing heavily on safeguarding the safety, security, and rights of civilians, frontline operators, and aid providers across Ethiopia. Delivered by Ambassador Rytis Paulauskas, Permanent Representative of Lithuania, the joint statement emphasized that ongoing armed conflicts and security breakdowns continue to exact an unacceptable human toll, demanding immediate corrective action and strict adherence to international humanitarian law.

The international group directed its focus toward volatile conditions unfolding across several key regions, particularly highlighting the Amhara and Oromia areas. The coalition strongly urged all conflicting parties to immediately halt human rights violations and systemic abuses. Central to this call is the unconditional protection of vulnerable civilian populations caught in the crossfire of regional hostilities, ensuring that local communities can secure basic safety.

Particular emphasis was placed on the perilous operating environment navigated by humanitarian and frontline workers. The 41 countries expressed deep alarm over targeted violence, security obstructions, and fatalities affecting aid personnel who strive to deliver life-saving provisions to populations suffering from severe drought and climate pressures. The statement stressed that humanitarian operators must be granted unhindered, safe access to distressed zones, noting that their physical security is a non-negotiable prerequisite for international relief operations.

To address the aftermath of these violations, the coalition insisted that absolute accountability must be secured for all victims and survivors of grave international humanitarian law breaches. This mandate explicitly covers accountability for the unlawful killings of humanitarian workers, signaling that impunity for attacks on aid providers will not be tolerated by the international community. The address called for transparent investigative processes and comprehensive, victim-centered justice mechanisms to address historical and ongoing grievances.

To foster long-term stability, the international collective encouraged the Ethiopian government to fully leverage available technical assistance through the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) country office. Furthermore, the coalition urged authorities to implement targeted recommendations from prior OHCHR and Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) reports.