Ethiopia’s Global Image to Gain Clarity Through Arabic Translation of Medemer State: Envoy

Addis Ababa, May 22, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Jemal Beker, said that the translation of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s book Medemer State into Arabic will help bring greater clarity to Ethiopia’s global image and enhance international understanding of the country.

Speaking exclusively to Fana Media Corporation, the Ambassador noted that the Arabic edition of Medemer State will play an important role in addressing long-standing misperceptions about Ethiopia that, according to him, have been shaped over time by historical adversaries seeking to portray the country in a negative light.

He said the translation will enable Arabic-speaking audiences across the Middle East and beyond to gain a deeper understanding of Ethiopia’s ongoing political, economic, and social transformation, as well as the broader philosophy of national integration and collective progress embodied in the Medemer approach.

Ambassador Jemal further stressed that making the book accessible in Arabic serves a strategic purpose in strengthening transparency, mutual understanding, and constructive engagement between Ethiopia and Arab countries, particularly on matters of national interest.

He also noted that the translation will help communicate Ethiopia’s positions on key national issues, including the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the country’s aspiration to secure reliable and direct access to the sea.

The Ambassador underlined that Ethiopia has been steadily strengthening its multifaceted relations with the United Arab Emirates and other countries in the region, adding that the Arabic edition of Medemer State provides an effective platform to convey Ethiopia’s long-term vision and policy direction.

He further emphasized that the translation opens a significant opportunity to reach nearly 400 million Arabic speakers across 25 countries where Arabic is an official language, thereby expanding the global reach of Ethiopia’s development narrative.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Medemer State book is the latest installment in the Medemer series, which expands the philosophy of “Medemer” — meaning synergy or coming together — into a structured framework of governance, state-building, and national development. The Arabic translation marks a new phase in efforts to internationalize the concept as both a governance philosophy and a tool of global engagement.