Italy has handed back Ethiopia’s first-ever plane, about nine decades after it was taken by Italy’s fascist invading forces.
At a ceremony in Rome, Prime Minister Aby Ahmed received it formally and declared it to be “a day of great pride” for the nation.
The handover of the plane took place during a visit by Abiy to Rome for a summit of African leaders hosted by Italy.
In a tweet, the Ethiopian Prime Minister said: “Today is a day of great pride for Ethiopians as we celebrate the official handover of “Tsehay” by the Italian government. I extend my immense gratitude to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for her support over the past year in facilitating its return.
“Tsehay” is the first aircraft built in Ethiopia in 1935, under the collaborative efforts of the German engineer and pilot of the emperor, Herr Ludwig Weber, and Ethiopian individuals of that era.”
Historians say the plane was taken to Italy after the invading forces of Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini occupied Ethiopia, then Abyssinia, in 1935, taking the capital Addis Ababa the following year.
Captured during the fascist era in Italy, it showed the occupation of what was then Abyssinia. Later, it was shown at the Italian Aviation Museum in Rome.
The plane was named in honour of Princess Tsehay, the daughter of Emperor Selassie, Ethiopia’s state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporation reported on its website.
It said its maiden flight took place in December 1935, when Weber flew 50 kilometres (about 30 miles) from Addis Ababa for about seven minutes.
The green, red, and yellow aircraft, known as Tsehai, is rumoured to have been named after the daughter of then-Emperor Haile Selassie.
