Jaishankar congratulates Ethiopia's FM Hessebon on re-appointment, pledges stronger ties
Synopsis
EAM Jaishankar's congratulatory post to Ethiopia's reappointed Foreign Minister Hessebon is more than diplomatic courtesy — it previews an imminent high-level visit to Addis Ababa, where India will seek to consolidate a strategic partnership that now spans BRICS backing, multiple Modi-Abiy summits, and a growing regional footprint across East Africa.
Key Takeaways
Jaishankar congratulated Gedion Timothewos Hessebon on his re-appointment as Ethiopia's Foreign Minister on 8 October 2026 .
Jaishankar is set to visit Addis Ababa after concluding his stay in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire , and will chair the Regional HoMs Conference .
Ethiopia's Prosperity Party won 438 of 486 HoPR seats; Abiy Ahmed Ali was sworn in for a second five-year term .
PM Abiy Ahmed Ali congratulated PM Narendra Modi on 25 years as head of government; Modi reciprocated and recalled his December Ethiopia visit .
India backed Ethiopia's BRICS accession , and bilateral ties have accelerated through multiple summit-level meetings in recent months.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday, 8 October 2026, congratulated Gedion Timothewos Hessebon on his re-appointment as Ethiopia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, signalling India's intent to deepen its strategic partnership with Addis Ababa. The message came as Jaishankar wrapped up a visit to Cote d'Ivoire before heading to Ethiopia.
Jaishankar's Message and the X Post
'Congratulate Gedion Timothewos Hessebon on your re-appointment as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia. Look forward to meeting you soon to further strengthen our Strategic Partnership,' Jaishankar posted on X.
The congratulatory outreach followed Ethiopia's House of Peoples' Representatives (HoPR) formally constituting a new federal government earlier this week, with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali sworn in for a second five-year term. His ruling Prosperity Party (PP) had secured 438 of the 486 contested HoPR seats, giving it a commanding parliamentary majority.
Jaishankar's Upcoming Ethiopia Visit
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Jaishankar is scheduled to travel to Addis Ababa after concluding his current engagements in Abidjan. During the visit, he will hold talks with Ethiopia's leadership to discuss the full spectrum of bilateral ties and exchange views on regional and global matters of mutual interest. He will also chair the Regional Heads of Mission (HoMs) Conference in Addis Ababa — a gathering of Indian envoys across the region.
Modi-Abiy Exchange Underscores Bilateral Warmth
The diplomatic momentum extended to the highest level on Wednesday, when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on completing 25 years as head of government — spanning his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 and as Prime Minister of India since 2014.
'Ethiopia and India's partnership has grown stronger over the past few years. From India's support for Ethiopia's accession to BRICS, to welcoming you to Addis Ababa last December and my first visit to India for the BRICS Summit in September of this year. I look forward to further strengthening this partnership,' Abiy posted on X.
Modi responded in kind, recalling his December visit to Ethiopia and a recent meeting in New Delhi. 'India greatly values its Strategic Partnership with Ethiopia and I look forward to working closely with you to further deepen our cooperation and friendship,' Modi posted on X.
Strategic Context: India-Ethiopia Ties
The exchange reflects a broadening of India-Africa engagement at a critical juncture. India backed Ethiopia's entry into BRICS, and the two countries have convened multiple high-level meetings within a short span — Modi's Addis Ababa visit, Abiy's New Delhi trip for the BRICS Summit, and now Jaishankar's imminent visit. Notably, this cluster of diplomatic activity places India-Ethiopia ties on a trajectory rarely seen in bilateral African outreach from New Delhi.
Jaishankar's visit to Ethiopia is expected to produce fresh agreements or joint statements on trade, development cooperation, and multilateral coordination — the precise details of which will emerge after the bilateral meetings.
Point of View
Abiy's New Delhi visit for BRICS, and now Jaishankar heading to Ethiopia — signals that India is treating the Horn of Africa as a strategic priority rather than a peripheral courtesy call. What is less clear is whether the 'Strategic Partnership' label translates into concrete deliverables: trade volumes, infrastructure commitments, or development finance that can be measured. India's Africa outreach has historically been rich in summitry and thin on follow-through. The HoMs Conference in Addis Ababa is an opportunity to close that gap — and Jaishankar's presence there will be watched as a test of institutional depth, not just diplomatic optics.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did EAM Jaishankar congratulate Ethiopia's Foreign Minister?
Jaishankar congratulated Gedion Timothewos Hessebon on his re-appointment as Ethiopia's Minister of Foreign Affairs following Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali's formation of a new cabinet for a second term. The message, posted on X, also confirmed Jaishankar's intent to visit Ethiopia soon to advance the bilateral strategic partnership.
What is Jaishankar's planned visit to Ethiopia about?
According to the MEA, Jaishankar will hold meetings with Ethiopia's leadership to discuss the full range of bilateral ties and exchange views on regional and global issues. He will also chair the Regional Heads of Mission Conference in Addis Ababa, which brings together Indian envoys from across the region.
Who is Gedion Timothewos Hessebon?
Gedion Timothewos Hessebon is Ethiopia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, reappointed to the role by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali as part of the new federal cabinet formed after the Prosperity Party's landslide electoral victory. He is the key interlocutor for Indian diplomacy with Addis Ababa.
What is the current state of India-Ethiopia relations?
India and Ethiopia share a designated Strategic Partnership. India supported Ethiopia's accession to BRICS, PM Modi visited Addis Ababa in December, and PM Abiy attended the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The relationship has seen an uptick in high-level engagement across trade, multilateral cooperation, and development assistance.
What did PM Abiy Ahmed Ali say about PM Modi's 25-year milestone?
Abiy Ahmed Ali posted on X congratulating Modi on 25 years as head of government — covering his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 and as Prime Minister since 2014. He highlighted growing Ethiopia-India ties, including BRICS accession support and recent bilateral meetings, and expressed a desire to deepen the partnership further.
