ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA Nov 19, 2025 – Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim kicked off the second day of his landmark official visit to Ethiopia with a tour of the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum, describing it as an “amazing” tribute to the African nation’s historic defiance against European imperialism.
In a post shared on his social media accounts this morning, Anwar highlighted the museum’s collection of historical artefacts and paintings that meticulously document the 1896 Battle of Adwa, where Ethiopian forces under Emperor Menelik II decisively defeated Italian colonial invaders.
“This museum is truly amazing, preserving various historical artefacts and paintings that detail the dignity, courage, and resilience of the Ethiopian people in facing Italian imperialist forces during the Battle of Adwa in 1896,” Anwar wrote in Malay.
He emphasised that the victory was not only a milestone for Ethiopia but a powerful symbol of resistance against imperialism across the African continent, inspiring subsequent independence movements throughout Africa.
“My salute to Ethiopia for its strong capability in elevating the value and serious cultivation of history for the whole world,” the Prime Minister added.
The Adwa Victory Memorial Museum, inaugurated in 2024 under the initiative of Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed, has quickly become a major cultural landmark in Addis Ababa, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors and symbolising pan-African pride and black empowerment.
Anwar’s visit to the museum underscores the deepening ties between Malaysia and Ethiopia during his three-day trip – the first ever by a Malaysian prime minister to the Horn of Africa nation. The tour precedes a packed schedule including a courtesy call on Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie, bilateral talks with Dr Abiy Ahmed, and participation in the Malaysia-Ethiopia High-Level Business Forum.
The visit coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and follows the recent reopening of Malaysia’s embassy in Addis Ababa after a 42-year closure.
Anwar arrived in Ethiopia on 18 November, where he was personally welcomed and driven by Dr Abiy Ahmed in a gesture of warm hospitality. The Malaysian leader is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Several agreements are expected to be signed during the trip, covering health cooperation, tourism, air services, and city-level collaboration between Kuala Lumpur and Addis Ababa.
From Ethiopia, Anwar will travel to South Africa for the G20 Leaders’ Summit before concluding his African tour in Kenya.
