Geingob Inaugurates Namibia’s Renovated Embassy In Ethiopia …as the two countries sign MoU on Defense Matters

By:Justicia Shipena
President Hage Geingob says the investment in the reconstruction of Namibia’s embassy building in Addis Abba, Ethiopia, will positively contribute to the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Geingob said this over the weekend during the embassy building’s inauguration in Ethiopia where he is attending the African Union (AU) 36th ordinary session of the Heads of State and Governments under the theme ‘The Year of AfCFTA: Acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade Area Implementation.’
He said Namibia and Ethiopia’s relations date back to 1960, before Namibia’s independence, when Ethiopia, together with Liberia, took the case of Independence for then South West Africa to the International Court of Justice, challenging the continuous presence of South Africa in the territory.
“Disappointingly, in 1966, the court ruled in favour of South Africa. But Ethiopia did not relent, as the headquarters of the OAU, Ethiopia continued to provide diplomatic and political support to Swapo,” he said.
Geingob added that the Ethiopian government intensified its support for Swapo in the 1970s by providing military training to Plan combatants and (training Namibian) pilots.
“Our two countries enjoy excellent and cordial bilateral relations, as well as close cooperation at international levels,” President Geingob said.
At the same time, he also revealed that Namibia’s international relations and deputy prime minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah together with the Ethiopian defense minister signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate on defense matters between the two countries
In July 2022, the two countries signed an MoU establishing diplomatic and political consultations.
In addition, in the early 1990s, Namibia and Ethiopia signed MoUs on health cooperation and air service agreement.
“The bond that was established before independence continues to shape our two countries to strengthen bilateral relations in various areas.”
Geingob then thanked the Ethiopian government for its cooperation during the renovation process of Namibia’s chancery building.