Addis Ababa – Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed officially received Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo at the National Palace in Addis Ababa on Monday, kicking off a high-level visit aimed at deepening cooperation between the two countries.
The visit resulted in the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding, with Prime Minister Abiy describing the outcomes as the beginning of a lasting partnership. “I held a fruitful bilateral meeting with President Daniel Francisco Chapo of Mozambique, marking the beginning of a long-lasting and tangible partnership. We also presided over the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding that will serve as the framework to shape and deepen our cooperation across strategic sectors. Together, we are turning our shared African potential into transformative reality,” Abiy said.
In a message shared on social media, the Prime Minister described Ethiopia as the “Land of Origins” and spoke of his country’s openness to building meaningful partnerships. “As the Land of Origins, Ethiopia is a place of boundless opportunity, opening her arms to the world and inviting partners to rediscover their shared roots and grow through cooperation,” he said, adding that Ethiopia aspires to be “far more than a destination; it is a second home for all who seek visionary growth and transformation.” 
Abiy expressed hope that the visit would deliver concrete results. “I hope your stay will bring productive outcomes, laying a foundation of shared success and enduring friendship,” he said.
Among the agreements signed was a Memorandum of Understanding between Mozambique’s Digital Transformation and Innovation Agency and Ethiopia’s FaydaVerse Digital Solutions Enterprise, a public company of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The MoU, signed in Addis Ababa on 27 April, focuses on strengthening bilateral cooperation in digital transformation, with particular attention to digital identity and Public Digital Infrastructure.
The agreement establishes a framework for technical collaboration to develop secure, inclusive and interoperable digital identity ecosystems, promote knowledge exchange, build the capacity of technical staff and implement innovative digital infrastructure solutions.
Adilson Gomes, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mozambique’s Digital Transformation and Innovation Agency, said digital identity was an essential tool for financial inclusion, access to public services and building citizens’ trust in digital services. He explained that digital identity is essentially the electronic version of a citizen’s identity, a system that allows each person to be uniquely identified in the digital environment through secure data such as a name, identification number and other authentication elements, enabling citizens to prove their identity when using online services without needing to travel physically.
Priority areas of cooperation under the MoU include the development of digital identity and authentication platforms, the implementation of Public Digital Infrastructure pilot projects, interoperability between government systems, technical capacity building for Mozambican experts, joint development of cybersecurity policies and solutions, and the promotion of technological sovereignty to reduce dependence on external suppliers.
“The document also provides for the creation of a Joint Working Group to coordinate the implementation of the agreed activities,” Gomes said.
Under the arrangement, Mozambique’s agency will lead institutional coordination and resource mobilisation, while FaydaVerse Digital Solutions Enterprise will provide specialised technical assistance, including support in the architecture and implementation of digital infrastructure, training of technical teams and systems integration in line with international best practices.
The agreement runs for three years and may be extended by mutual consent. It forms part of broader South-South cooperation in the digital field and is aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the continent’s Digital Transformation Strategy.
