Ethiopia Signs Convention Establishing International Organization for Mediation

Addis Ababa, May 31, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia has signed the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) during a ceremony held on May 30, 2025, in Hong Kong, China.

Tefera Derbew, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia to China, signed the convention on behalf of the Ethiopian government, the Ethiopian Embassy in Beijing told Fana Media Corporation.

In a video message issued on the occasion, Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Gedion Timothewos said his country remains committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes.

He stated that the East African country recognizes the importance of a fair, efficient, and development-oriented dispute resolution mechanism that responds to the needs of developing countries.

The minister noted that Ethiopia welcomes the establishment of the organization.

The signing ceremony was attended by senior officials, including Wang Yi, member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, along with 400 representatives from 85 countries and nearly 20 international organizations.

The convention establishes the world’s first intergovernmental organization focused solely on mediation. It aims to provide a structured platform for the peaceful settlement of international disputes, with particular attention to the interests of developing nations.

Ethiopia’s participation in the founding of IOMed reflects its commitment to multilateralism, peaceful conflict resolution, and international cooperation.