now rudds joined the range game

Africa's economic potential spells opportunity for Australia, Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd says.

In Ethiopia on Wednesday to open Australia's new embassy in Addis Ababa, Mr Rudd said he was committed to deeper political engagement with Africa on a range of issues.

Australian investment in Africa's resources sector is about $20 billion, "with billions more in prospect".

"We are determined to use Australian expertise to help African countries ... manage their resources so that they spur economic development," he said.

"We also need, as the Australian government, to be active across the continent in supporting, at both a political and consular level, the many of Australians now working in this vital sector of the African economy."

Mr Rudd said challenges such as climate change, trade liberalisation and poverty were being addressed by Australia and Africa bilaterally and multilaterally.

He urged the United Nations to deliver greater African representation on the UN Security Council.

Mr Rudd said that, as recent events in Moscow had shown, terrorism required continued international vigilance.

"Such vigilance is also required on Somalia, a major international security issue which I have today discussed with my Ethiopian counterpart and the chair of the African Union Commission," he said.

"Al-Shabaab continues to pose a threat in Somalia, more broadly in Africa and well beyond its borders, including in Australia."

Mr Rudd is due to leave Ethiopia on Friday and will then visit Switzerland, Turkey, Greece and Liechtenstein.