Category: In The Press

21 October 2025 – It is with great sorrow that the Crown Council of Ethiopia marks the passing of Grand Mufti Haji Umer Idris, the former President of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs in Ethiopia. Known widely as “Haji Mufti” he was very deeply revered not just in the Muslim community, but across all faiths in Ethiopia. This fact is underlined by the vast crowds of people of every faith who paid their respects to him yesterday at his funeral. Grand Mufti Haji Umer Idris was a voice for love, unity, morality, mutual respect, good neighborliness, and patriotism. He displayed the very essence of what it meant to be a good Ethiopian, and a person of faith. His wisdom, wit, and kindness will be deeply missed by all. We join with all people of faith in our country in mourning this deeply holy man. We extend our sincere condolences to his family, to the Muslim community, and share the grief of the entire Ethiopian people at the loss of a national elder. May he rest in peace.

Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie Haile Selassie, President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia

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የኢትዮጵያ ዘውድ ምክር ቤት የታላቁን አባት የኢትዮጵያ እስልምና ጉዳዮች ምክር ቤት ፕሬዝዳንት የነበሩት የተቀዳሚ ሙፍቲ ሐጂ ዑመር ኢድሪስ ዜና እረፍት የተሰማንን ጥልቅ ሐዘን ልንገልጽ እንወዳለን። “ሐጂ ሙፍቲ” ተብለው የሚታወቁትና ከመላው የኢትዮጵያ ሕዝብ ታላቅ ከበሬታ ያተረፉት ከሙስሊሙ ማህበረሰብ ብቻ ሳይሆን ከሁሎም ቤተ እምነት ተከታይዎች ነው። ተቀዳሚ ሙፍቲ ሐጂ ዑመር ኢድሪስ ለፍቅር፥ ለአንድነት፥ ለሥነ ምግባር፥ ለመከባበር፥ ለጥሩ ጎረቤትነት፥ ለሀገር ወዳድነት ድምጽ ነበሩ። የጥሩ ኢትዮጵያዊነት እና የጥሩ አማኝነት ምሳሌ ነበሩ። በሳልነታቸው፥ ጥበባዊነታቸው፥ እና ደግነታቸው መቼም አይረሳም። መጽናናትን ለቤተሰባቸው እና ለመላው ሙስሊም ማህበረሰብ እንመኛለን። ከመላው የአገራችን ሕዝብ ጋር የእኚህ ታላቅ የአገር ሽማግሌ መለየት ምክንያት በደረሰብን ሐዘን ተካፋዮች መሆናችንን እንገልጻለን። ፈጣሪ ነፍሳቸውን ያሳርፍልን።

ልዑል ኤርምያስ ሣሕለ ሥላሴ የዘውድ ምክር ቤት ፕሬዝዳንት።

ADDIS ABABA 7 October 2025 – His Imperial Highness Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile Selassie prepared a recorded video greeting for the 75th Anniversary celebration of the YMCA in Ethiopia.

3 October 2025 – It is with deep sorrow that we note the terrible loss of 36 and injury of over 200 people on October 1st, 2025, at the Church of the Holy Virgin Mary at Arerti, in the district of Minjar-Shenkora, North Shewa Zone. The wood scaffolding inside the church, which is currently under construction, collapsed while numerous people were touring the site on the occasion of the Feast Day known popularly as “Bizuhan Mariam or St. Mary of the Multitude.” The dead and injured included many children and elderly people.

We pray that the Almighty Creator repose the souls of the dead in paradise, that He grant a swift recovery to the injured, and consolation to the bereaved.

Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie Haile Selassie, President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia.

25 September 2025 – His Imperial Highness Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie, President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia and Patron of the Royal Ethiopian Trust was honored to exchange greetings and enter into an agreement of mutual recognition and friendship with the Imperial House of Brazil. Letters of recognition were exchanged between Prince Ermias and His Excellency Don Marco de Guadamillas y Cortes, Grand Chancellor of the Imperial House of Brazil.

His Imperial Highness Prince Ermias also bestowed the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Seal of Solomon upon His Imperial and Royal Highness Dom Pedro Thiago, Prince Imperial of Brazil (Petropolis Claim). His Imperial and Royal Highness Dom Pedro Thiago of Bourbon-Orleans and Braganza granted Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie the Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of Dom Pedro I.

Formerly a colony of the Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil became the seat of the Portuguese monarchy in 1808 when the royal family fled from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro following the conquest by Napoleon I. King João VI of Portugal returned to Lisbon, leaving his son Dom Pedro in Brazil. When Brazil declared independence from Portugal in 1822, Dom Pedro was proclaimed Emperor Pedro I. Brazil remained an Empire until 1889 when the monarchy was abolished and the country became a republic. While Ethiopia has had a long relationship with Brazil beginning in the 20^th century, this is the first time that the two Imperial Houses have exchanged honors and courtesies.

This historic occasion took place at the United Nations Headquarters during its General Assembly and events marking the 80^th Anniversary of the founding of the UN.

23 September 2025 – His Imperial Highness Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selasse, President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia and Patron of the Royal Ethiopian Trust paid a visit to New York City on the occasion of the General Assembly of the United Nations, and the commemoration of the 80^th Anniversary of the U.N.  His Imperial Highness was accompanied by his wife, Princess Saba Kebede.  Their Imperial Highnesses took part in several commemorative events during this historic occasion.

It is to be remembered that Ethiopia was a founding member of the United Nations and was one of only four African states to sign the charter during its founding summit in San Francisco, California in 1945.  The four African states who attended this summit and signed the charter were the Empire of Ethiopia, the Kingdom of Egypt, the Republic of Liberia and the Union of South Africa.  The Ethiopian delegation was headed by Prime Minister Ras Bitwoded Makonnen Endalkachew and included Ato (later Tsehafi Ta’ezaz) Aklilu Hapte Wold, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs; Ato Ambaye Wolde Mariam, Vice Minister of Justice; Blatta Ephrem Tewelde Medhin (Envoy to the United States); Ato Emmanuel Abraham, Director General of the Ministry of Education; and Ato Menasse Lemma, Director General of the Ministry of Finance.

It is to be remembered that Ethiopia was previously a member of the League of Nations.  However, the failure of the League to uphold the doctrine of collective security during the invasion by fascist ruled Italy showed the weakness of that organization and emboldened the Axis powers to launch acts of conquest that resulted in World War II.  His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I was the only head of state to ever address the League of Nations to appeal for the doctrine of collective security to be upheld.  Prophetically, the Emperor told the League that failure to protect Ethiopia would result in other members becoming victims of aggression as well. 

It was important to Ethiopia that it participate in a new international body that would uphold the doctrine of collective security, and it was important for the United Nations that the first victim of the failures of the League be a charter member of the UN.  Ethiopia has been an active member of the United Nations community ever since joining as a charter member.  Ethiopia hosts the headquarters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa at Addis Ababa’s Africa Hall, and has also played an important role in peacekeeping missions around the world.

His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia visited and spoke at the United Nations Headquarters for the first time during his first state visit to the United States in 1954 and visited again in 1963 and 1967. 

 

16 September 2025 – It is with profound sorrow that we mourn the loss of His Excellency Dr. Minassie Haile, a towering states-man, diplomat, and servant of Ethiopia. His departure marks the loss of one of the last great pillars of an era when our nation’s voice carried strength and moral clarity on the world stage.

Dr. Minassie Haile devoted his life to the service of Ethiopia with exemplary dignity, wisdom, and patriotism. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, as a trusted spokesperson of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I, and as a leading advocate within the Organization of African Unity, he helped shape and preserve Ethiopia’s diplomatic legacy. Through his vision and eloquence, he ensured that Ethiopia stood not only as a guardian of her own sovereignty, but also as a beacon of freedom and African solidarity.

He served His Imperial Majesty with fidelity, and his eloquent representation of Ethiopia’s position on international issues upheld the highest ideals of truth, justice, and peace. In his stewardship of our diplomacy, Ethiopia’s role as a founding force for African unity and independence was safeguarded and highly respected.

Dr. Minassie’s eloquence and vision on the world stage reflected the highest ideals of our nation. He accompanied His Imperial Majesty on numerous historic state visits, including the landmark journey to Jamaica in 1966, where Ethiopia’s presence inspired and uplifted a people deeply connected to our ancient heritage. He also stood alongside the Emperor during official visits to the United States and other countries, where he represented Ethiopia’s dignity and Ethiopia’s aspirations to the wider world with the utmost pride and integrity. In this regard, Dr. Minassie was much more than just a diplomat. He was an unwavering Patriot for the cause of Ethiopianism.

On behalf of the Crown Council of Ethiopia, Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie announced, “I extend my heartfelt condolences to Dr. Minassie’s beloved family, his colleagues, and to all who mourn the loss of a great son of Ethiopia. As we mourn his loss, let us also make sure to honor his memory, his service, and his legacy.”

May Almighty God comfort his family and loved ones in this time of great loss. May His Excellency Dr. Minassie Haile rest in eternal peace.

11 September 2025 / 1 መስከረም 2018

11 September 2025 / 1 መስከረም 2018

Beloved People of Ethiopia,

As we embark upon yet another New Year, it is both fitting and timely that we pause to reflect upon our heritage, to give thanks for the mercies bestowed upon us, and to lift our hopes and prayers for the days to come.

From ancient times, Enkutatash or the New Year has been, for our people, a symbol of renewal and continuity. When our ancestress, the Great Makeda, Queen of Sheba, returned to Ethiopia from Jerusalem, the Ethiopian aristocracy welcomed her with pearls and precious adornments — tokens not only of honor but of the eternal cycles of life, of years and seasons passing, and of our people’s steadfastness through time. This tradition, handed down through the generations, is a living expression of Ethiopian identity, culture and pride.

As we embrace the turning of the year, let us remember that it is our sacred duty to give thanks to Almighty God for His providence, to reflect upon the lessons of the past, and to greet the future with faith and with courage. Yet even as we celebrate, we cannot forget that Ethiopia faces trials of division, conflict, and hardship. It must therefore be the solemn prayer of us all that our people may find peace, healing, and unity — and that persecution, strife, and suffering may yield to reconciliation, justice, and harmony.

In this moment, too, we witness the fulfillment of a vision long cherished by generations. The completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is not merely a triumph of labor and resolve; it is the realization of an ancient aspiration, first studied in the reign of my revered grandfather, His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I. Though constrained by the circumstances of the global economy and political order at the time, His Majesty entrusted to future generations the dream of harnessing Abay for the good of our nation. Today, by the perseverance of our people and under the successive labors of leaders — from the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, and now to Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed — that dream has been brought to fruition.

This is not the achievement of one man, nor of one generation alone, but of Ethiopia united. It stands as a resounding testament to what we can accomplish when national interest transcends all divisions. For this, we give praise to the Almighty, who in His wisdom has permitted the hopes of our ancestors to find their fulfillment in our time.

May this New Year be crowned with peace, health, and unity for Ethiopia and all her children. May God, in His everlasting grace, guard our nation and bless her destiny.

HIH Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie

President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia

9 September 2025 / 4 ጳጉሜ 2017

https://www.sbs.com.au/language/amharic/am/podcast-episode/prince-ermias-sahleselassie-haileselassie-2018-ethiopian-new-year-message/gfyi2kl8e

8 September 2025 – Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie, on behalf of the Crown Council of Ethiopia, offers his sincere condolences to His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent and to all those touched by the death of Her Royal Highness Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, late last week.

The Crown Council of Ethiopia recognizes the Duchess of Kent’s lifelong dedication to the causes of child welfare and education. Her deep love of music manifested itself at both a personal and professional level. From her talent with instruments and her performance in choir to her lifelong support for many musical organizations and her career as a music teacher, Her Highness’s life reminds us of the power of the arts and the power of education to enrich our lives.

In this time of mourning, Prince Ermias notes that the Duchess of Kent was the oldest member of the British royal family, and invites the people of Ethiopia and of the United Kingdom to use this occasion to remember the long ties which exist between the Ethiopian royal family and the British royal family, and between their two nations, staunch allies in World War II in the global struggle against fascism.

May the Duchess of Kent rest in peace.