A Moroccan military delegation led by Major General Aziz Idrissi visited Ethiopia to discuss strengthening bilateral defense ties. The delegation met with Ethiopian Army Chief of Staff Field Marshal Berhanu Jula to explore avenues for cooperation on peace and security issues. Field Marshal Jula acknowledged the «historical ties between the two nations, which were interrupted for several reasons». General Idrissi emphasized the importance of military collaboration. Relations between Morocco and Ethiopia were strained following Ethiopia's recognition of the Polisario Front in 1979. Diplomatic ties gradually resumed after the death of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in 2012. In 2017, King Mohammed VI visited Ethiopia, and the two countries have since deepened cooperation, including a $2.4 billion OCP fertilizer project. Morocco and Ethiopia held their first political consultations in May 2024, signaling a further strengthening of bilateral relations.
