Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Brazil and Ethiopia established diplomatic relations in 1951. The Embassy of Brazil in Addis Ababa was opened in the 1960s, but closed a few years later, and was reopened in 2005. Ethiopia established a resident embassy in Brazil in 2011, the first one of that country in South America.

The frequent exchanges of visits by high-level Brazilian and Ethiopian authorities have contributed to promoting increased dialogue and bilateral cooperation in areas such as agriculture, renewable energies, science and technology, education and social development. In April 2018, the 1st Bilateral Political Consultations Meeting was held in Addis Ababa. Brazil and Ethiopia have technical cooperation projects in the sustainable management of forests and acid soils within the scope of the existing partnership between Embrapa and the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR). The two countries are also engaged in cooperation projects in the areas of basic sanitation and population census.

As the second most populous country in Africa and the eighth largest economy on the continent, Ethiopia is among the countries with the fastest growing economies in the world. Home to the headquaerters of the African Union (AU) and of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Addis Ababa stands out as an important diplomatic hub, playing a significant role in African peace processes.

Chronology of bilateral relations

2023 – Minister Mauro Vieira visits Addis Ababa and is hosted by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (May)

2018 – The 1st Meeting of the Bilateral Political Consultations Mechanism is held in Addis Ababa. Brazil and Ethiopia sign a cooperation and investment facilitation agreement (April)

2018 – The Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy of Ethiopia, Wro Frenesh Mekuria, visits Brazil  (March)

2018 – Ethiopia sends a technical mission to Brazil to learn about the Brazilian experience in bioenergy production (March)

2017 – The Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Ethiopia, Eyasu Abraha Alle, visits Brazil as the head of  a mission to learn about the  good practices in agriculture, in particular coffee production (December)

2017 – The bilateral technical cooperation project "Technical support for the management of acid soils for agricultural use" is launched

2017 – A technical mission Ethiopian Central Statistics Agency is sent to Brazil to learn about the Brazilian experience in population census (March)

2016 – Minister Mauro Vieira visits Addis Ababa and is hosted by Prime Minister Hailemarian Desalegn. Signing of the memorandum of understanding on trade and investment promotion. The Brazil-Ethiopia business seminar is held (March 8)

2016 – Launching of the "Strengthening water supply and sewerage services in Ethiopia" cooperation project, developed in partnership between Brazil, Ethiopia and UNICEF

2015 – The Ethiopian Ambassador in Brasília and Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira sign an agreement to avoid double taxation on profits from international air and maritime transport (June)

2014 – Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Hassen visits  Brasília as head of a science and technology study mission (April)

2013 – The bilateral technical cooperation project "Strengthening Ethiopia’s Technical Capacity in Sustainable Forest Use and Management " is launched

2013 – The Minister of Urban Development of Ethiopia, Mekuria Haile, visits Brazil (December)

2013 – Ethiopian Airlines launches air link between Addis Ababa and São Paulo (July)

2013 – President Dilma Rousseff visits Addis Ababa to take part, as a special guest, in the commemoration of the Golden Jubilee of the African Union. On the occasion, the President met with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn. Signing of agreements on air services; educational cooperation;  and science, technology and innovation cooperation (May 24) [Signed Agreements]

2012 – The Minister of Finance of Ethiopia, Sufian Ahmed, visits Brazil (December)

2012 – The Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi, visits Brazil to lead the Ethiopian delegation to the Rio+20 Conference (June)

2012 – On a visit to Addis Ababa, Minister Antonio de Aguiar Patriota is hosted by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. Bilateral agreements are signed including a bilateral technical cooperation agreement and a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a political consultations mechanism between Brazil and Ethiopia (April 23 and 24) [Signed Acts]

2012 – The Minister of Urban Development and Construction of Ethiopia, Hailemeskel Hailemarkos, visits Brasília (April)

2011 – Opening of the Ethiopian Embassy in Brazil

2005 – Foreign Minister Celso Amorim pays a working visit to Addis Ababa, accompanied by representatives from the Ministry of Health, EMBRAPA and the business sector

2005 – Reopening of the Embassy of Brazil in Addis Ababa

1960s – Brazil has been operating an embassy in Addis Ababa for a few years

1960 – Official visit of Emperor Haile Selassie to Brazil

1951 – The Brazilian Legation to the Empire of Ethiopia, based in Cairo, is created