Malaysian PM Praises Ethiopia's Legacy of Peace and Tolerance

By Dawan Africa - Reporter

Ethiopia,19 November 2025 – Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called for deepening bilateral relations with Ethiopia, praising the country’s historic role in advancing peace, tolerance, and interfaith coexistence across centuries.

Speaking at the Ethiopia–Malaysia Business Forum, Anwar highlighted Ethiopia’s early legacy of protecting persecuted communities, saying this history offers valuable lessons for a world witnessing rising divisions and tensions.

The Prime Minister also underscored the deep ties between Ethiopia and the Muslim world, recalling the first migration from Mecca to Abyssinia and the protection extended by King Negus — a Christian Orthodox ruler — to the early Muslim refugees.

He noted that this historic episode represents a moral foundation that can be used today to counter racist and inflammatory narratives against Black communities and to strengthen contemporary international relations.

Following his meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Anwar said that neglecting to develop relations with Ethiopia would be “a major loss” for Malaysia, Asia, and the international community.

He called for building a “special relationship” with Addis Ababa based on empathy, friendship, and mutual respect rooted in the shared history between the two nations.

Anwar stressed the importance of drawing inspiration from the legacy of King Negus to reinforce values of love and solidarity among peoples, emphasizing that the world today needs “more bridges, not more walls.”