Indian Prime Minister Heads to Ethiopia in Historic Visit
Dawan Africa14 hrs
Indian PM Modi Makes First-Ever Visit to Ethiopia
Can Abiy Ahmed’s high-profile welcome for India’s prime minister translate into real gains for Ethiopia, or does the visit distract from the country’s deep-seated political and security challenges?
Above: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets with Ethiopian President Abiy Ahmed in Johannesburg on Nov. 22. Image credit: G20 South Africa/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
Ethiopia’s hosting of India’s PM translated into productive talks and concrete agreements. Abiy Ahmed presided over the signing of key pacts on customs cooperation, a data centre and U.N. peacekeeping training with India, underlining Ethiopia’s proactive diplomatic engagement and capacity-building goals. The visit showcased Ethiopia’s agency in shaping partnerships that span trade, technology, security and institutional strengthening, reinforcing the country’s standing on the regional and global stage.
Government-critical narrative
The fanfare around the high-profile visit to Addis Ababa does not hide that Ethiopia is grappling with severe internal turmoil under Abiy Ahmed’s rule. Armed insurgencies continue in Oromia and Amhara, and peace in Tigray remains fragile, with fears of renewed conflict. Human rights abuses and inter-communal violence persist, undermining stability and daily life far from diplomatic photo ops, and turning grand external engagements into distractions from pressing domestic crises.
Pro-India narrative
Modi’s Ethiopia stop formed part of a broader regional tour, reflecting India’s push to expand its geopolitical footprint across West Asia and Africa. Anchored in millennia-old India–Ethiopia ties, the visit links historical legitimacy with present-day strategy. It positions New Delhi as a Global South power using diplomacy, trade routes and long-term partnerships to project influence, diversify alliances and shape regional connectivity beyond its immediate neighborhood.