JUBA – Ethiopian Embassy in South Sudan on Friday marked the 129th anniversary of the Victory of Adwa.
The day is celebrated in memory of the Battle of Adwa in which federal forces defeated the Italian army trying to invade from the north on March 1, 1896.
The ceremony was attended by dozens of Ethiopians and South Sudanese, among them top dignitaries from various sectors.
Speaking at annual Adwa festival held in Juba on Friday, Amb. Nebil Mahdi, Ethiopian envoy to South Sudan described the day as an important day not just for Ethiopians but entire Africa.
“Today we gather to commemorate the 129th anniversary of the Battle of Adwa, a defining moment in the history of Ethiopia, Africa, and the global African diaspora,” Mahdi said on Friday in Juba.
According to Mahdi, the Ethiopian Empire achieved a significant victory over Italian soldiers on March 1, 1896, in the Battle of Adwa, which took place close to Adwa in Tigray, Ethiopia.
“It marked the defeat of European colonialism by an African nation, a victory that we saluted far beyond Ethiopia’s border. Ethiopia’s victory was a shining example of the power of unity, strategic leadership, and resilience,” he said.
For part, Monday Semaya K. Kumba, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of South Sudan, said Adwa represents beauty and African independence.
“The story of Adwa means a lot to us, especially for us in South Sudan. When we reflect on the history of Adwa, it reminds us in South Sudan of the history of our struggle,” said Semaya.
He said Ethiopia remains one of African countries that has not been colonized by a European force as a result of the triumph, making it immune to the effects of Western colonialism.
The Battle of Adwa was the last and most decisive of a series of battles Ethiopians fought against the invading colonial forces of Italy – a colonial force that had ambitions to bring the whole East Africa region under its control.
