Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed thanks Modi, vows to build on India-Ethiopia Strategic Partnership
Synopsis
Ethiopia's PM Abiy Ahmed Ali publicly called Modi a 'trusted friend and elder brother' after the Prosperity Party swept 438 of 486 seats in Ethiopia's seventh general election. The exchange signals that India's December bilateral visit to Addis Ababa — the first ever by an Indian PM — has cemented a diplomatic bond with real strategic weight in the Horn of Africa.
Key Takeaways
Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed Ali thanked PM Narendra Modi on 24 June for his election congratulations, calling him a 'trusted friend and elder brother.' The Prosperity Party won 438 of 486 contested seats in Ethiopia's seventh General Election held on 1 June .
The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) declared the official results from Addis Ababa .
PM Modi visited Ethiopia in December last year — the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister — and was conferred the 'Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia' .
Both leaders reaffirmed commitment to the India-Ethiopia Strategic Partnership covering political, economic, and people-to-people ties.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali on Wednesday, 24 June publicly thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his congratulatory message following the Prosperity Party's decisive victory in Ethiopia's parliamentary elections, reaffirming his commitment to deepening the India-Ethiopia Strategic Partnership.
Abiy Ahmed's Response on X
Addressing Modi as a 'trusted friend and elder brother,' PM Abiy Ahmed Ali posted on X: 'Thank you, Your Excellency Prime Minister Narendra Modi trusted friend and elder brother whose historic mandate speaks to the enduring democratic strength of the world's largest democracy. Ethiopia and India share bonds rooted in history, partnership, and shared ambition for our peoples. We look forward to building on our Strategic Partnership and continuing this journey together! Namaste.'
The post was a direct response to PM Modi's congratulatory message on X, in which Modi had written: 'Heartiest congratulations to my friend, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and the Prosperity Party for a decisive victory in the Ethiopian parliamentary elections.'
Ethiopia's Election Results
The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) on Sunday declared the ruling Prosperity Party winner of the country's seventh General Election, held on 1 June. The party secured 438 of the 486 contested seats in the House of Peoples' Representatives (HoPR), the lower chamber of Ethiopia's Parliament. Under Ethiopia's Constitution, the party commanding a majority in the HoPR is mandated to form the government and nominate the Prime Minister.
Modi's Congratulatory Message
PM Modi, writing on X on Tuesday, noted that India 'greatly cherishes its historic, multifaceted and deep-rooted ties with Ethiopia.' He also recalled his visit to Ethiopia 'last year' and expressed his intent to 'further strengthen our Strategic Partnership and the bonds of friendship between our peoples.'
Background: Modi's Ethiopia Visit
In December last year, PM Modi undertook a two-day bilateral visit to Addis Ababa — the first such visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ethiopia. During the trip, Modi and Abiy Ahmed Ali held wide-ranging talks covering political cooperation, economic engagement, and strategic partnership. The two leaders planted saplings at the Ethiopian House of People's Representatives as part of India's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative and Ethiopia's own 'Green Legacy' programme.
Modi also addressed a Joint Session of the Ethiopian Parliament — a special honour accorded to him — and was conferred Ethiopia's highest civilian honour, the 'Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia'. This visit laid the diplomatic groundwork that is now being reinforced through the exchange of public messages following Abiy Ahmed's re-election.
What This Signals
The warm diplomatic exchange underscores India's deepening engagement with the African continent, with Ethiopia serving as a strategic anchor in the Horn of Africa. This comes amid India's broader push to strengthen South-South partnerships and expand its diplomatic footprint across Africa ahead of key multilateral forums. The bilateral relationship now spans political cooperation, economic ties, and people-to-people links — with the Strategic Partnership framework providing the institutional backbone.
Point of View
With Ethiopia as a key node in the Horn of Africa. Modi's December visit, the first ever by an Indian PM, was a significant investment of diplomatic capital; Abiy Ahmed's effusive 'elder brother' framing signals that the investment has paid relational dividends. What remains to be seen is whether the Strategic Partnership translates into tangible economic agreements — trade, infrastructure, or defence cooperation — or stays at the level of warm optics. India's Africa outreach has historically been strong on symbolism and slower on delivery.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed thank PM Modi?
Abiy Ahmed thanked PM Modi for his congratulatory message on X following the Prosperity Party's decisive victory in Ethiopia's seventh parliamentary elections held on 1 June 2025. In his response, Abiy Ahmed called Modi a 'trusted friend and elder brother' and reaffirmed his intent to build on the India-Ethiopia Strategic Partnership.
How many seats did Ethiopia's Prosperity Party win in the 2025 election?
The Prosperity Party secured 438 of the 486 contested seats in Ethiopia's House of Peoples' Representatives, according to results declared by the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE). This majority mandates the party to form the government and nominate the Prime Minister under Ethiopia's Constitution.
What is the India-Ethiopia Strategic Partnership?
The India-Ethiopia Strategic Partnership is a bilateral framework covering political cooperation, economic engagement, and people-to-people ties between the two countries. It was significantly advanced during PM Modi's two-day visit to Addis Ababa in December last year — the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ethiopia.
What happened during PM Modi's visit to Ethiopia?
During his December visit to Addis Ababa, PM Modi held detailed talks with PM Abiy Ahmed Ali, addressed a Joint Session of the Ethiopian Parliament, and was conferred Ethiopia's highest civilian honour — the 'Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia.' The two leaders also planted saplings as part of India's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' and Ethiopia's 'Green Legacy' initiatives.
What did PM Modi say in his congratulatory message to Abiy Ahmed?
PM Modi wrote on X that India 'greatly cherishes its historic, multifaceted and deep-rooted ties with Ethiopia,' extended 'heartiest congratulations' to Abiy Ahmed Ali and the Prosperity Party, and expressed his intent to further strengthen the Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
