U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa Celebrates 250 Years of American Independence

U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa
BY EMBASSY SPOKESPERSON

Addis Ababa, July 3, 2026 — The U.S. Mission to Ethiopia, the U.S. Mission to the African Union, and the Office of Sudan Affairs marked the 250th anniversary of America’s independence with a celebration at Addis Ababa’s Science Museum on July 2.  The event brought together senior government officials, African Union (AU) officials and member state representatives, and distinguished guests to reflect on 250 years of American diplomacy and 123 years of diplomatic engagement in Ethiopia.  U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Ervin Massinga opened the evening with a message of partnership and shared ambition, declaring, “We gather tonight not just to celebrate American independence, but to celebrate the deep, enduring, and forward-looking partnership between the United States and Ethiopia.”

Ambassador Massinga highlighted the significant economic and diplomatic progress achieved over the past year, recognizing in particular Ethiopia’s bold market reforms.  The Ambassador praised the Ministry of Finance for its transformative steps, noting, “Together, we are delivering on creating an open, predictable business environment to unleash Ethiopia’s remarkable technological and commercial potential.”  These reforms, alongside the opening of Ethiopia’s banking sector to foreign investment and the launch of the U.S.-assisted Ethiopian Securities Exchange, reflect the Administration’s approach to commercial diplomacy — championing trade over aid, investment over dependency, and mutually beneficial private-sector-driven partnerships.  The Ambassador also highlighted a landmark milestone in health diplomacy: a five-year, more than one-billion-dollar Health Cooperation MOU signed in December 2025, with Ethiopia committing an additional $450 million of its own resources — a powerful demonstration of the co-investment model that defines the Administration’s America First Global Health Strategy.

U.S. Mission to the African Union Chargé d’affaires, a.i. Walter Parrs highlighted U.S. leadership with the AU to advance peace and security, strengthen public health, and expand economic opportunity.  He underscored U.S. and AU commitment to a partnership of equals, sharing a vision of market-driven development, backed by American companies and their investments in continental infrastructure and technology.  Chargé d’affaires, a.i. Parrs noted the importance of African leadership alongside the United States to secure peace and stability in Africa, including in eastern DRC and Sudan, and praised the Africa CDC and its coordination with U.S. health institutions to lead Africa’s response this year to Ebola.  “As I look toward America’s next 250 years,” Chargé d’affaires, a.i. Parrs said, “I see a future in which the United States is connected in more and stronger ways to this continent.  We enter this next chapter as equal partners, proud of how far we have come and fully committed to the work ahead.”

Looking ahead, Ambassador Massinga conveyed a vision of shared technological leadership and enduring partnership, noting that “Africa is the next major engine of global growth, and we see Ethiopia leading the charge.”  Ambassador Massinga underscored that lasting progress also requires peace, echoing Secretary Rubio’s reminder that “Peace is not a noun, it’s a verb, it’s an action,” and commending the AU for its vital role in mediating tensions in the Tigray region.  Reflecting on the next 250 years, Ambassador Massinga ended with a call to the future: “Let us look to that bright future together.  Let us build a safer, stronger, and more prosperous America and world.”

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