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 80th 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.
