Ethiopia and Cuba mark 49 years today since the establishment of diplomatic relations characterised by solidarity, mutual respect and collaboration in various sectors, including education, health, water and sugar.
The ties of friendship between the two peoples were strengthened when in 1977 Cuban internationalist troops supported Ethiopian troops against external annexationist attempts and 163 Caribbean fighters fell in the battle.
The agreement of positions in bilateral and multilateral forums has strengthened over time, such as Addis Ababa’s historic support for Havana against the US blockade in the United Nations and the African Union, among other forums.
With regard to governmental meetings at the highest level, the then Cuban ambassador here, Jorge Lefebre, in statements to Prensa Latina last September during the G77 and China Summit held on the island, mentioned the participation of former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke Mekonnen with a large delegation.
Lefebre highlighted the gratitude expressed by Mekonnen to the Cuban authorities, the meetings with President Miguel Díaz-Canel, with Vice-President Salvador Valdés Mesa, with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez and emphasised the gratitude to Cuba for its contribution over the years.
Another important moment in the strengthening of relations took place in the midst of the Brics Group Summit, then comprising only Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, held last August in Johannesburg.
Díaz-Canel spoke with Ahmed, something that was repeated at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, between November and December 2023.
The Cuban diplomat also recalled Valdés Mesa’s visit to this capital last November, during which he was received by the head of the Ethiopian government and they exchanged ideas on how to take this political relationship to the economic level, which is now one of the priorities of both countries.
Another important moment was the reopening of the Ethiopian embassy in Havana in April 2023. He recalled that due to the internal conflict they were forced by economic issues to close 30 diplomatic missions around the world and that year they reopened three, the first of which was Cuba, he added.