Ethiopia Marks UN 80th Anniversary

Ethiopia Marks the UN’s 80th Anniversary with a series of events that brought together UN staff, government representatives, diplomats, development partners, the African Union, youth, and other stakeholders.

As one of the founding members of the United Nations, Ethiopia signed the UN Charter in 1945 and has since played a significant role in shaping multilateral cooperation.

Held at the historic Africa Hall under the theme “Ethiopia and the United Nations: Past, Present and Future,” the commemoration served as a platform to reflect on eight decades of partnership and to strengthen dialogue on future collaboration to address current and emerging global and national challenges.

“This celebration represents both a moment of reflection and renewal,” said Mr. Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). Highlighting the historic significance of the venue, he referred to Africa Hall as “the home of African multilateralism” and the proud seat of ECA for over sixty years.

The programme featured a flag-raising ceremony, a high-level panel discussion, and the launch of a timeline exhibition titled “Ethiopia and the UN Through the Decades.”

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye, State Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, reaffirmed Ethiopia’s enduring role as a founding member of the UN and its strong support for a multilateral system anchored in the UN Charter.

“Eighty years of the UN is a milestone, but it is also a mandate to do better — with equity, reform, and respect for sovereignty,” he said, calling for stronger efforts toward peace, development, and justice in a rapidly changing world.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, emphasized the close partnership between the AU and the UN, describing them as sister institutions united by shared values and commitments to Agenda 2063 and Agenda 2030. He called for collective action to confront escalating global challenges.

During a high-level panel that convened representatives from the UN, Government, African Union, development partners, and youth, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (a.i.), Dr. Aboubacar Kampo, emphasized Ethiopia’s leadership role in the UN’s history.

“As one of the founding members of the United Nations, Ethiopia’s voice helped shape the principles of peace, cooperation, and human dignity that remain at the core of the UN Charter.”

He underscored that while the world faces complex challenges — from climate change to inequality and conflict — it is also a moment of opportunity to reimagine collective action. He reaffirmed the UN Country Team’s commitment to supporting Ethiopia through the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2025–2030).

Participants highlighted the importance of deepening cooperation to advance peace, sustainable development, and intergenerational justice.

The Timeline Exhibition chronicled key milestones in the UN-Ethiopia partnership — a journey marked by solidarity, progress, and shared aspirations since 1945.

The commemoration also provided a platform for Ethiopian university students to showcase innovative SDG-focused solutions and for young people to perform peace-themed songs and share messages affirming the continued relevance of the United Nations for all — everywhere and everyone.