President Hage Geingob has inaugurated the renovated building of Namibia’s diplomatic chancery in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

The Chancery, located in the Bole suburb of Addis Ababa, used to host Swapo Party offices during Namibia’s struggle for independence.

However, after a number of years of occupation and consequent wear and tear, the building became inhabitable, and the Chancery found other premises to operate from until the government invested funds for renovation.

President Geingob says Ethiopia’s strategic role in Namibia’s fight for freedom cannot be underestimated, especially when Ethiopia and Liberia took up the country’s case at the International Court of Justice over the period of 1932 to 1971.

He says, therefore, that maintaining relations with Ethiopia and opening a diplomatic mission in Addis Ababa is the highest form of honor.

Geingib appealed to the Ethiopian government to consider opening a diplomatic mission in Namibia.

Ethiopia's embassy in South Africa currently serves Namibia as well.

Ethiopia’s President Sahle-Work Zewde called for regular meetings of joint commissions to discuss and strengthen areas of cooperation between the two countries.

She praised Namibia's and Ethiopia's strong ties.