Ethiopia and France: A Moving Relations
Channel: Batu Tube
Date: 12/03/2013

The relationship between Ethiopia and France goes back a long way with an agreement to respect each others sovereignty signed between the King of France and the King of Shoa in central Ethiopia in 1836. Both countries signed a treaty in 1897 recognizing the border between Ethiopia and French Somaliland, later Djibouti; and it was during Menilek's reign that the 781 km Ethio-Djibouti railroad project was started, providing Ethiopia with access to the port of Djibouti.