Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ethiopia)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Amharic: የውጭ ጉዳይ ሚኒስቴር
Agency overview
Formed	1907 (1907) 23 August 1995; 29 years ago (1995-08-23) (under current state)
Jurisdiction	Ethiopian government
Headquarters	Menelik II Ave, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 9°01′09″N 38°45′45″E / 9.019158°N 38.762614°E / 9.019158; 38.762614
Agency executive	Gedion Timotheos, State Minister
Parent department	Office of the Prime Minister
Website	www.mfa.gov.et

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Amharic: የውጭ ጉዳይ ሚኒስቴር, romanized: Yewich’i Gudayi Mīnīsitēri) is the Ethiopian government ministry which oversees the foreign relations of Ethiopia.

The current ministry was established 23 August 1995 with the passing of Proclamation 4-1995, which also established the other 14 original ministries.^[1] The current minister of foreign affairs is Gedion Timotheos since 18 October 2024.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for conducting the country's foreign policy and managing its diplomatic relations with other nations and international organizations.^[2]

Historically, the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has existed since the imperial era, but its organizational structure and functions have evolved over time. During the imperial period, the ministry coordinated Ethiopia's foreign relations under the emperor's direct supervision. Following the overthrow of the monarchy in 1974, Ethiopia went through various changes, including the establishment of a communist regime. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continued its role but adapted to the new political order.^[3]

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs collaborates closely with the Prime Minister's Office and other relevant governmental agencies to shape Ethiopia's foreign policy objectives. It represents Ethiopia's interests in international arena, conducts negotiations and diplomacy on various issues, and handles matters related to international law, treaties, and agreements.