EXPLAINER: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with Ethiopia’s highest civilian award

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with Ethiopia’s highest civilian award, “The Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia,” by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali on December 16, 2025, marking a significant moment in India–Africa diplomatic relations.

The award was presented during a special ceremony held at the Addis International Convention Centre in Ethiopia’s capital. According to a statement issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the honour recognises Prime Minister Modi’s exceptional contribution to strengthening bilateral ties between India and Ethiopia, as well as his role as a visionary global statesman.

Notably, Prime Minister Modi is the first foreign head of state to receive this prestigious Ethiopian honour, underscoring the growing strategic importance of India’s engagement with Africa and Ethiopia’s recognition of India as a key development and diplomatic partner.

India and Ethiopia share long-standing historical ties, particularly in areas such as capacity building, education, healthcare, defence cooperation, and development assistance. In recent years, the relationship has expanded to include trade, investment, infrastructure development, and people-to-people exchanges.

The conferment of Ethiopia’s highest honour on Prime Minister Modi is widely seen as a symbolic reaffirmation of the deepening India–Africa partnership, with Ethiopia playing a pivotal role in New Delhi’s broader engagement with the African continent.