Ethiopia called for sweeping reforms to global governance and multilateral institutions during a BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi [1].
The request highlights a growing push among emerging economies to restructure international power dynamics. By challenging the current multilateral systems, Ethiopia seeks to shift the global balance of power toward a model that provides more agency to developing nations.
The statement was delivered on May 15, 2026 [1], during a two-day diplomatic gathering that took place from May 14 to 15, 2026 [2]. The meeting brought together foreign ministers from the BRICS bloc to discuss various issues of international cooperation and governance.
Ethiopian representatives said the international community should build a world order that is more equitable, representative, legitimate, and just [1]. The government said that existing multilateral systems are no longer sufficient to address the needs of the global population — particularly those in the Global South.
This call for reform focuses on the perceived lack of representation within the institutions that manage global finance, security, and law. Ethiopia said that the current framework of global governance requires a fundamental overhaul to ensure that decisions are not dominated by a small group of powerful states [1].
The New Delhi summit served as a platform for these demands, aligning Ethiopia with other BRICS members who have frequently questioned the legitimacy of Western-led institutions [3]. The Ethiopian government said that a more just system would foster greater stability and cooperation across different regions of the world [1].
“Ethiopia called for sweeping reforms to global governance and multilateral institutions”
Ethiopia's alignment with the BRICS bloc signals an increasing effort by African nations to leverage collective diplomacy to challenge the post-WWII international order. By advocating for 'representative' and 'legitimate' governance, Ethiopia is pushing for a systemic redistribution of voting power and decision-making authority within global bodies like the UN and IMF.
