April 04, 2025
Ethiopia participated in the BRICS meeting of deputy foreign ministers and special envoys on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The meeting held on March 28, 2025, deliberated on the peace, security, and humanitarian situation in the region, including the Israel – Palestine conflict, the situation in Sudan, Libya, Yemen, Lebanon, and Syria, and the security situation in the Red Sea.
With a delegation led by Ambassador Leulseged Abebe, Head of Mission of the Embassy of Ethiopia in Brazil, Ethiopia reiterated its principled position in support of the right of the Palestinian people for self-determination and the two-state solution based on the UN General Assembly and Security Council Resolutions.
The meeting reasserted the role of the UN Security Council (UNSC) in the maintenance of international peace and security and acknowledged the important role played by regional organizations in addressing threats to international peace and security in accordance with Chapter VIII of the UN Charter. In addition, the international community is called upon to enhance its support to assist MENA countries in meeting their development goals.
Ethiopia highlighted its consistent efforts to mediate a diplomatic solution for the conflict in Sudan. It emphasized its support for a Sudanese-owned and led process for lasting peace. In line with its principled position, Ethiopia is a country with no military involvement in support of any of the warring sides. It is to be recalled that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed remains the only head of government that travelled to Port Sudan. Additionally, Ethiopian Airlines continues to be the only international carrier maintaining scheduled flights to Sudan. With this and the longstanding ties that exist between the two countries, Ethiopia expressed its strong support for the peace efforts of IGAD and the African Union. Furthermore, recalling the High-Level Humanitarian Conference on Sudan that Ethiopia co-hosted on 14 February 2025, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia implored BRICS countries to scale up humanitarian assistance.
On the security situation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, Ethiopia underscored the maritime route’s relevance as a lifeline for global trade, especially for the countries of the region, littoral and non-littoral alike. On this basis, Ethiopia called for inclusive maritime governance. In relation, Ethiopia reiterates its policy of zero tolerance for terrorism in all its manifestations and calls for enhanced global partnership to combat terrorist groups in the Horn of Africa.
The meeting concluded by adopting a joint statement calling for the strengthening of multilateralism as a means to promoting peace, stability, and development in the MENA region.