Deputy Head of Mission, Ababi Demissie, was among guests from more than 100 Embassies that took part in a moving ceremony on 23^rd May to mark the International Day of UN Peacekeeping, at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London.

The annual event, organised by the United Nations Association-UK, is one of the largest gatherings of diplomats worldwide to mark Peacekeepers’ Day.

On behalf of the people and government of Ethiopia, Mr Demissie laid a wreath in honour of United Nations Peacekeepers from Ethiopia and around the world, who have lost their lives in the name of peace since 1948.

Deputy Head of Mission, Ababi Demissie, lays a wreath in honour of @UN Peacekeepers, from #Ethiopia and around the world, who have lost their lives in the name of peace.#PKDay #PKDay19 #PeacekeepersDay #ProtectingPeace pic.twitter.com/X5LRPKgQhP

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

The ceremony marked the mid-point of a day-long conference on UN Peacekeeping held at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) that brought together experts and practitioners for a day of discussion.

Entitled “The Thin Blue Line”this year’s special focus was placed on the less military aspects of peacekeeping with panels on UN Policing, on the politics of peacekeeping and whether the UN should “take sides,” and two insightful lectures from Ambassador Ellen Loej  (a former UN Security Council Ambassador and twice Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of a UN peacekeeping mission) and Professor Paul D. Williams (an academic introducing his book on the African Union Peacekeeping Mission to Somalia – AMISOM).

Ethiopian men and women have played an important role in United Nations’ efforts to advance worldwide peace – Ethiopia’s participation in UN-authorised operations dates back to 1951, as part of the UN multinational force in the Korean War.

Ethiopia is currently the largest troop contributor to UN Peacekeeping with over 7,000 uniformed personnel, with the vast majority serving in missions within the Horn of Africa: the AU-UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), UN Interim Security Force for Abyei and UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).