On 23^rd October 2019, the new Ethiopian Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, H.E. Mr. Fesseha Shawel Gebre, was invited to Buckingham Palace by Her Majesty The Queen to formally present his credentials.

Credentials, also known as “Letters of Credence”, refer to the formal documentation accrediting an Ambassador as head of a diplomatic mission.

On the day of the ceremony, which is steeped in tradition and royal pageantry, the official state carriages arrived at the Embassy where the Director of Protocol and Vice-Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, Mr Neil Holland, escorted Ambassador Fesseha, his wife, Mrs Asegedech Amberber, and four senior diplomats: Mr Ababi Demissie (Deputy Head of Mission), Mr Araya Kidane (Minister – Business Diplomacy), Mrs Roza Yerukneh (Minister – Diaspora Affairs) and Mr Zerihun Abebe (Minister Counsellor – Political Affairs).

H.E. Ambassador Fesseha Shawel, accompanied by his wife, Mrs Asegedech Amberber, and diplomats, depart the Embassy for #BuckinghamPalace where Ambassador Fesseha is scheduled to formally present his #credentials to Her Majesty The Queen.#Ethiopia #EthiopiaInUK 🇪🇹🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/ggNOf8g0vN

— Ethiopian Embassy UK 🇪🇹🇬🇧 (@EthioEmbassyUK) October 23, 2019

On arrival at Buckingham Palace, the Ambassador and his delegation were escorted inside by the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, H.E. Alistair Harrison CMG CVO, to meet with Her Majesty The Queen, for the presentation of his credentials and an Audience – a one-to-one meeting – with The Queen.

During his audience with The Queen, Ambassador Fesseha reiterated his commitment to further strengthen the relationship between Ethiopia and the United Kingdom, especially in trade and investment, higher education and tourism, adding that Ethiopia receives the highest number of tourists from the United Kingdom.

Her Majesty The Queen on her part spoke about the strength of the relationship between Ethiopia and the United Kingdom, and noted the recent changes in Ethiopia and Prime Minister Abiy’s Nobel Peace Prize. She also spoke fondly of her visit to Ethiopia in the 1960s.

Following the ceremony, Ambassador Fesseha hosted a vin d’honneur at the Embassy with officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ambassador’s family, diplomats, and staff.

In his remarks at the reception, Ambassador Fesseha said:

“Today is a great day! I am honoured to have presented my credentials to Her Majesty The Queen…Here’s a toast to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, Her Majesty The Queen, and to the prosperity of the people of Ethiopia and the United Kingdom.”

Toasting the strengthening of Ethio-UK relations, H.E. Alistair Harrison CMG CVO said:

“It was a privilege to take the Ambassador to meet The Queen…Our relationship has flourished in the past, it is flourishing now in the present, and it will definitely flourish in the future.”

Following the official cake-cutting ceremony, Ambassador Fesseha presented H.E. Alistair Harrison with the gift of a tie featuring Ethiopia’s ancient Aksum Obelisk. Guests were then treated to an array of authentic Ethiopian cuisine, including Ethiopian wine, and a traditional coffee ceremony.

—ENDS—

Background

Ambassador Fesseha Shawel Gebre officially assumed his duties as the newly-appointed Ethiopian Ambassador to the United Kingdom on Monday 4^th March 2019.

A career diplomat, Ambassador Fesseha brings with him almost 30 years of experience having served at Diplomatic Missions in Juba, Nairobi, Mogadishu, and Cairo, as well as at various posts within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For further information, please contact the Press Office on press@ethioembassy.org.uk