Azerbaijan and Ethiopia held discussions on preparations for the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), scheduled to take place in Azerbaijan on May 17–22.

The Azerbaijani delegation included Sultan Hajiyev, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Kenya and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and Ruslan Nasibov, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU). Oumar Sylla, Director of the UN-Habitat Regional Office for Africa, also attended the discussions.

The meetings involved Chaltu Sani Ibrahim, Ethiopia’s Minister of Urban and Infrastructure Development; Adanech Abiebie, Mayor of Addis Ababa; Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa; Moses Vilakati, AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment; as well as other senior officials.

The Azerbaijani delegation briefed African officials on WUF13, including the preparation process, planned initiatives, upcoming events and activities, and opportunities for participation and cooperation.

The meetings described the upcoming forum, to be held under the theme “Housing for All: Safe and Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements,” as a key platform for strengthening international cooperation in sustainable urban development and highlighting Azerbaijan’s contribution to global processes in partnership with international stakeholders.

The Azerbaijani delegation also attended an event in Addis Ababa held under Kenya’s initiative “Building Climate Resilience of the Urban Poor” (BCRUP).

 

AZERTAC

2026, January 23