The 80th Anniversary of Victory Day Celebrated in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, April 30, 2025 – A thematic seminar dedicated to a significant date – the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War – was held at the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Ethiopia. The event was attended by representatives of the Office of the President, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, the diplomatic corps, media, public and expert circles, including the President of the Ethiopian Patriots Association, Daniel Jote Mesfin, and the Country Director of Young Lives Ethiopia, Steven Alula Pankhurst.

The Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Ethiopia Barlybay Sadykov, in his speech, spoke about the enormous contribution of the Kazakh people to the common Victory in World War II. He emphasized the courage and heroism of hundreds of thousands of Kazakhs who fought on the fronts of the war, as well as the selfless labor of those who forged Victory in the rear. It was noted that today, in the context of new geopolitical challenges, it is particularly important to preserve and strengthen international peace and security based on the universally recognized principles of the Charter of the United Nations and norms of international law, respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states.

The Ambassador also informed the seminar participants about a number of important anniversaries celebrated in the Republic of Kazakhstan this year, in particular, the 115th anniversary of Bauyrzhan Momyshuly, the 100th anniversary of Aliya Moldagulova, and the 110th anniversary of Malik Gabdullin. It was noted that honoring the memory of these outstanding personalities is an important part of preserving historical truth and fostering patriotism in the young generation of Kazakhstanis.

The President of the Ethiopian Patriots Association, D.Mesfin, emphasized that Ethiopia occupies a special place in the history of the fight against fascism and colonialism. The Italo-Ethiopian War of 1935-1941 became one of the first and tragic clashes with the aggressive ambitions of the colonizers, challenging the very idea of enslaving independent peoples. The unwavering resilience and courage of the Ethiopian people in defending their freedom and territorial integrity served as a vivid example and an inspiring symbol of resistance to colonial plans of oppression worldwide. In memory of those who gave their lives for the freedom of their country, Ethiopia annually celebrates May 5th as Patriots’ Day.

The Country Director of Young Lives Ethiopia, A.Pankhurst, noted that more than a million Africans from Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, and many other African countries served in the armies of the colonial powers, demonstrating heroism and resilience on the battlefields in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, India, Burma, and the islands of the Pacific Ocean. The heroic struggle of African countries made an invaluable contribution to the common cause of liberating humanity from the fascist plague and became a harbinger of the impending collapse of the colonial system.

As part of the seminar, there was a screening of the Kazakh feature film “Summer of 1941”, which tells the true story of the combat path of the Kazakh scientist, writer, and public figure Adi Sharipov, about battles with partisan detachments during the Great Patriotic War. The poignant story evoked a deep emotional response from the audience and served as a reminder of the price paid by the peoples of the Soviet Union for Victory.

Also, within the framework of the seminar, a photo exhibition was organized highlighting the contribution of Kazakhstan, Ethiopia, and African countries to the victory in World War II. The exposition brought together archival photographs, documents, and testimonies emphasizing the role of the Allies and the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition in achieving a common victory.

The seminar was held in a warm and friendly atmosphere, contributing to the strengthening of mutual understanding and cultural exchange between representatives of various countries.