Addis Ababa, March 5, 2026.- At the Tiglachin Monument, also known as the Ethiopia-Cuba Friendship Park in Addis Ababa, a moving ceremony was held to commemorate the 48th anniversary of the Battle of Karramara, a pivotal battle in the defense of Ethiopian sovereignty during the Ogaden War.
The ceremony brought together members of the Association of Former Military Forces, representatives of the Cuban diplomatic mission, Ethiopians who graduated from Cuban universities (known as Ethio-Cubans), relatives of fallen combatants, war veterans, and the general public. Representatives from the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, veterans of the Battle of Karramara, and diplomats from Latin America, including representatives from the embassies of Colombia and Venezuela, also participated.
During the ceremony, the 163 Cubans who fell in Ethiopian territory were remembered. Their names and faces appear on the murals of the monument, and every March 5th they receive floral offerings as a sign of respect and gratitude from both peoples.
The Cuban ambassador to Ethiopia, Meylin Suárez Álvarez, highlighted the symbolism of the site and the historical significance of the victory at Karramara for the relationship between the two nations. She noted that returning to this place is always an honor and an opportunity to celebrate more than half a century of brotherhood between Cuba and Ethiopia.
In her remarks, she recalled that the victory at Karramara strengthened the bonds of friendship between the two countries and opened a unique chapter of solidarity, marked by the arrival in Cuba of thousands of Ethiopian children and teenagers who were trained as doctors, engineers, teachers, and other professionals. She emphasized that this vision was championed by the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, whom she described as the principal driving force behind Cuba's love for and collaboration with Africa, and whose centenary of birth is being commemorated this year.
The diplomat also expressed the Cuban people's pride in having contributed to the formation of these generations of young Ethiopians, who, she affirmed, strengthened the humanist, solidarity-based, and internationalist spirit of Cuban society. She added that, despite the difficult conditions the island faces today, Cuba will not renounce the values of solidarity and friendship forged in blood in Karramara and later strengthened on the Isle of Youth, where many young Ethiopians pursued their studies and consolidated a deep bond with the Cuban people.
During the event, participants extolled the historical significance of Karramara, the meaning of the date, and the role played by the Cuban combatants, while reiterating the enduring strength of the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two nations.