Addis Ababa, March 2, 2025.- In an act of deep historical and symbolic significance, members of the Cuban diplomatic mission in Ethiopia, Ethiopian Cubans and Cuban residents met this Sunday to begin the restoration of the Cuba-Ethiopia Friendship Park, an emblematic site located in the heart of Addis Ababa.
The date chosen for this collective effort could not have been more timely: 2 March, the 129th anniversary of the victory of Adwa, a milestone that marked the resistance of the Ethiopian people against colonial occupation and consolidated their sovereignty.
The Friendship Park, conceived as a sculptural monument to the unbreakable ties between the two peoples, houses the monument in honor of the 163 Cuban fighters who gave their lives on African soil. Its restoration is not only a tribute to their sacrifice, but also a reflection of both nations' commitment to historical memory and the preservation of the values of solidarity and brotherhood.
The victory of Adwa, which in 1896 made Ethiopia the only African country to defeat a European colonial power and maintain its sovereignty, resonates with the history of Cuba, a nation that has also defended its independence with courage and determination. It is in this spirit of struggle and shared resistance that Cubans and Ethiopians in Ethiopia decided to undertake this action, reaffirming that the friendship between the two peoples is not only a legacy of the past, but a commitment to the future.
This significant restoration effort is taking place in a special context: Cuba and Ethiopia will soon celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations. In tribute to this half century of brotherhood, the Embassy of Cuba in Ethiopia will carry out a series of commemorative events and activities, further strengthening the ties of cooperation and solidarity that have characterized the relationship between the two nations.
The restoration of the Friendship Park is a living testimony of the shared history between Cuba and Ethiopia, a space where memory and mutual recognition will continue to flourish as a symbol of fraternity between two peoples who have known how to resist, fight and move forward together.
(EmbaCuba-Etiopía)