BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
The UAE's growing role as one of the world's most trusted mediators came to the fore at the 20th edition of the Aletihad Forum on Tuesday.
Organised by the Aletihad News Center, and held at the Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities, the event highlighted the UAE's efforts in turning diplomacy into a bridge for peace and dialogue across regions affected by conflict.
In its second session, titled "The UAE: Clear Roles in Promoting Peace", speakers from Ethiopia, Russia, and Brazil presented compelling accounts of how the UAE has contributed to peace processes in their respective regions, emphasising its model of neutral yet active diplomacy.
UAE's Role in Ethiopia-Eritrea Rapprochement
Solomon Muchie, Ethiopian journalist and co-founder of the Ethiopian Media Professionals Association, delivered a powerful testimony on the UAE's crucial involvement in mediating one of Africa's most historic peace agreements, the 2018 rapprochement between Ethiopia and Eritrea after two decades of frozen conflict.
"For nearly 20 years, Ethiopia and Eritrea were trapped in a frozen state of hostility, borders sealed, families separated, and opportunities lost," Muchie recalled. "In this difficult context, the UAE stepped forward, not just as a participant, but as a trusted partner, quietly encouraging dialogue between the two sides," he added.
He credited the UAE for leveraging its diplomatic credibility and neutrality to facilitate critical conversations between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, culminating in the signing of the Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship in July 2018.
"When peace was declared, it was as if a heavy cloud lifted over the Horn of Africa," said Muchie. "The streets of Addis Ababa and Asmara came alive with celebrations, and behind every joyful moment was a human story," he added.
Muchie emphasised that the UAE's role extended far beyond diplomacy. "The UAE supported Ethiopia's reform programmes, facilitated currency swaps, and delivered humanitarian aid through the Emirates Red Crescent, especially during COVID-19 and natural disasters."
Highlighting the UAE's broader peacebuilding philosophy, he said: "Peace is not just signed on paper. It is lived in the daily lives of people."
UAE's Humanitarian Diplomacy during Ukraine-Russian War
Tatiana Kukhareva, Russian journalist and media strategist, commended the UAE's humanitarian diplomacy amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
She praised the UAE for its impactful role in facilitating prisoner exchanges and maintaining dialogue where other actors failed.
Kukhareva revealed that thanks to the UAE's mediation, over 4,400 prisoners were exchanged between Russia and Ukraine, a feat achieved through 17 separate exchanges and countless hours of behind-the-scenes negotiation.
"These numbers may seem modest compared to global statistics, but they represent over 4,000 families who were reunited and given a chance to hug their loved ones again," Kukhareva said.
Kukhareva lauded the UAE's neutral stance, which she described as "one of the most powerful moral positions in diplomacy today."
"Neutrality, when rooted in empathy and values, becomes a force," she said. "The UAE has proven that in the loudest age in history, it is the quietest acts of humanity that speak the loudest."
UAE and Brazil: A Multifaceted Partnership Rooted in Solidarity
Santanna Joberto, adviser to the former President of Brazil, and a leading columnist, spotlighted the UAE's strategic partnership with Brazil across humanitarian, environmental, and economic dimensions.
He noted that the partnership "reflects a multifaceted interaction connecting governments, businesses, civil society, and citizens in a long-term cooperation framework".
From supporting Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic to providing over 200 tonnes of supplies during the Rio Grande do Sul floods in 2024, the UAE has consistently backed Brazil in times of need, he said.
Joberto also highlighted the UAE's donation of $40 million for environmental and social projects in the Amazon and the critical role of Emirati investments in sectors such as ports, renewable energy, and aviation in Brazil.
"This is a partnership of growing economic depth, with ample room for expansion from integrated logistics to the bioeconomy, from the creative economy to technological innovation," Joberto said. "When the UAE and Brazil work together, the results are not just bilateral, they are global."
"Abu Dhabi's commitment to humanitarian aid and development transcends borders, turning solidarity into a force for stability, prosperity, and the advancement of a more just and peaceful world, " he added.