PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is set to commence the second day of his landmark official visit to Ethiopia with a guided tour of the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum, a cultural landmark commemorating Ethiopia’s historic triumph at the Battle of Adwa in 1896.
The museum, celebrated as a symbol of African freedom and black empowerment, draws a growing number of visitors and hosts national events, highlighting not only a military victory but also a legacy of diplomacy, courage, unity, and national pride.
Following the museum visit, Anwar, who also serves as Finance Minister, will pay a courtesy call on Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie at the Addis International Convention Centre.
He will then participate in the Malaysia-Ethiopia High Level Business Forum, reinforcing economic and investment partnerships between the two nations.
Bernama reported today, later in the day, an official welcoming ceremony will be held at the National Palace, where Anwar will inspect a guard-of-honour and participate in the “Tree of Friendship” planting ceremony.
The Prime Minister will also tour the National Palace to explore Ethiopian history and culture and hold a bilateral meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed Ali.
During the meeting, the two leaders are scheduled to witness the signing of memoranda of understanding on health cooperation, an air services agreement, and tourism collaboration.
A separate agreement between the Kuala Lumpur City Council and the Addis Ababa City Administration will formalise mechanisms for ongoing strategic dialogue and long-term bilateral cooperation.
Anwar and Dr Abiy Ahmed will address the media in a joint press conference before concluding the day with an official dinner hosted by the Ethiopian Prime Minister.
This visit marks Anwar’s first official trip to Ethiopia, reflecting Malaysia’s intensified engagement with the African continent through the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.
The three-day trip, which began on 18 November, commemorates the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Ethiopia, established in January 1965, and reciprocates Dr Abiy Ahmed’s visit to Malaysia in October last year.
The Prime Minister is accompanied by Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Zaliha Mustafa, senior government officials, and a business delegation.
Ethiopia, the most populous landlocked country in the world and Malaysia’s 26th largest trading partner in Africa in 2023, is the first stop in Anwar’s African tour.
Following Ethiopia, he will proceed to Johannesburg, South Africa, from 20 to 23 November to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit, and Nairobi, Kenya, from 23 to 24 November, before returning to Malaysia. - November 19, 2025
