
New Apostolic Nuncio to Ethiopia receives warm welcome in Addis Ababa
Archbishop Brian Ngozi Udaigwe speaks at the Apostolic Nunciature upon his arrival in Addis Ababa
By Bezawit Assefa - Addis AbabaThe late Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Brian Ngozi Udaigwe as the new Apostolic Nuncio to Ethiopia on April 12, 2025, just a few days before his death.
Until this new assignment, Archbishop Udaigwe had served as the Apostolic Nuncio to Sri Lanka.
He was formally welcomed to Addis Ababa this week at Ethiopian Airlines and later at the Apostolic Nunciature, where Church officials, clergy, members of the diplomatic corps, and the faithful gathered to greet him and express their joy at his arrival.
Archbishop Udaigwe, a native of the Catholic Diocese of Orlu in Nigeria, enjoys an accomplished career in the diplomatic service of the Holy See spanning more than three decades.
Ordained a priest on May 2, 1992, he continued his studies at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome before entering the diplomatic service of the Holy See on July 1, 1994. His early diplomatic assignments included service in Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, Haiti, Bulgaria, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.
He was appointed Titular Archbishop of Suelli and Apostolic Nuncio on February 22, 2013, by Pope Benedict XVI and was consecrated bishop on April 27, 2013, by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.
Later in 2013, he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Benin and subsequently to Togo. He then served in Sri Lanka from June 13, 2020, until his recent reassignment.
During the welcoming ceremony, Msgr. Massimo Catterin, Secretary of the Nunciature, offered heartfelt congratulations to Archbishop Udaigwe and warmly welcomed him to Ethiopia.
He also recalled the special significance of the appointment, noting that the late Pope Francis had sent the Archbishop to Ethiopia just nine days before his passing—a gesture that reflected the Holy Father's lasting attention to the Ethiopian Church.
Msgr. Catterin assured the Archbishop of the full support and collaboration of the Nunciature team. 'If you are our father, we are your sons—sons ready to listen and be encouraged by your experience,' he said.
In his address, Archbishop Udaigwe expressed his deep appreciation for the historical and spiritual significance of Ethiopia, noting its influential role as a hub for many African nations.
He commended the efforts of the local Church, emphasizing the importance of mutual support and collaboration 'for the glory of God.'
In his remarks, the Archbishop also reflected on the unique nature of his appointment, explaining that the process began under the pontificate of Pope Francis and was completed by Pope Leo XIV. This, he said, marked his mission to Ethiopia as a distinct and meaningful journey in the service of the Church.
With his new appointment to Ethiopia, Archbishop Udaigwe brings seasoned diplomatic and pastoral expertise to the Horn of Africa, continuing his mission of representing the Holy Father and strengthening the bonds between the Holy See and the local Church.--Vatican News

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The Star
15 hours ago
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India seeks to take over island in strategically located Lakshadweep to shore up defence
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'We are not against India's defence interest. But if they take the island away from us, where will we go?' said Yaseen. 'This is our home,' he added. A 'Save Bitra Island' social media campaign has also been launched to rally support from people living on the other nine inhabited islands, out of the 36 that make up Lakshadweep. A video for the campaign features aerial photographs of the island, ringed by golden sand beaches bathed by emerald blue waters. The video ends with the message: 'Save Bitra, Save Lakshadweep.' While no timeline for the acquisition has been made public, the administration has set a two-month deadline starting from July 11 to carry out a social impact assessment survey to analyse how the acquisition would affect individuals and communities. A local district official, who was not authorised to speak to the media, said they had been asked to conduct the survey, noting that nothing would move forward till it is concluded. But residents are not waiting around for the report to be done, and are already discussing their next course of action, including taking a petition to the high court. 'We will even take the legal route if necessary,' said Yaseen. About 40 per cent of global trade and 80 per cent of the maritime oil trade pass through the Indian Ocean. Lakshadweep's proximity to important shipping lanes makes it a critical asset for India's maritime security. It allows the South Asian country to monitor vital shipping lanes like the Nine Degree Channel in the Indian Ocean, which connects South-East Asia to the Middle East and Europe. And it boosts India's ability to swiftly deploy defence resources to effectively combat maritime threats like drug smuggling and piracy. Eighty per cent of China's oil has to pass through the Malacca Strait that lies east of the Indian Ocean. The move to take over Bitra Island – situated in the northern part of Lakshadweep – is clearly a sign of mounting Indian insecurity about China's growing presence in the Indian Ocean, noted analysts. Lakshadweep already has two naval bases, the second of which was inaugurated in 2024 on Minicoy Island, which is the southernmost atoll and closest to the Maldives at a distance of about 130km. The Indian Navy had said at the time of the inauguration that the base was 'part of efforts to augment security infrastructure at the strategically important' islands. Its first base in the Lakshadweep islands on Kavaratti was commissioned in 2012. 'If this move (to take over Bitra Island) is approved and implemented, it would add a third Indian defence base in the Lakshadweep island chain, alongside the naval bases on Kavaratti and Minicoy. This would increase India's presence and ability to deploy into the western Indian Ocean,' said Viraj Solanki, research fellow for South and Central Asian defence, strategy and diplomacy at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies. 'This is similar to India's growing presence in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which enhances India's presence in the eastern Indian Ocean,' Solanki noted. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are located in the Bay of Bengal, near sea lanes including the Malacca Strait. Notwithstanding environmental concerns and the possible effects on the local indigenous tribal communities, India is going ahead with plans for a transshipment port, an airport, a power plant and a settlement on Great Nicobar Island, the largest and southernmost of the Nicobar Islands, within the union territory of Andaman and Nicobar. The government plans to handle four million containers by 2028 in the first of the transshipment port's four phases. While Great Nicobar is spread across 921 sq km, Bitra Island is a mere 0.105 sq km. It has a primary school up to Class 8 for those between 13 and 14 years old, and children who want to continue their education must go by boat to the neighbouring island of Chetlat, which is about 48km away. The island is also known for a small shrine to Malik Mulla, an old Arab saint who is said to have been buried there, and is a place of pilgrimage. According to the government website for Lakshadweep, the first permanent settler on Bitra Island was a woman and her son from Chetlat, who started living on the island from around 1945. The opposition Congress party also held protests against the takeover of Bitra Island on July 22 and has vowed to continue to support the residents of the island. 'The more pertinent aspect is that Bitra Island is the smallest in area and population, but in terms of economic zone, Bitra Island has the largest lagoon in Lakshadweep. It is a very lucrative economic zone. 'Fishermen of different islands park their boats and do fishing,' MP Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed, who represents Lakshadweep in Parliament and belongs to the Congress party, told The Straits Times. 'We don't want to compromise on national security. But why take over the entire island? Where will they go?' On a visit to Lakshadweep in January 2024, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a submarine optical fibre connection from Kochi in the southern Indian state of Kerala to boost communications infrastructure. He shared photos and videos of himself snorkelling to promote tourism and persuade Indians to visit Lakshadweep. The visit, however, triggered a row with the Maldives, which saw it as an effort to draw away Indian tourists from its own pristine beaches and natural beauty. Ties have since improved between the two countries. Like other island nations in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives has continued to balance its ties with India and China. 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It noted that between 2020 and 2024, 13 Chinese research vessels with 'concerning organisational ties' were active in the Indian Ocean region. India and China have a complicated relationship due to a row along several sections of their de facto border. Of late, the two countries have moved to improve ties, but distrust remains, with India wary of China's growing clout in South Asia and among the Indian Ocean littoral states. India is also seeking to greatly expand its naval footprint, with 59 warships now being built in Indian shipyards, according to Indian media sources. Additionally, plans are afoot for building a further 31 warships, including submarines. The question remains whether India, which is a net security provider in the Indian Ocean, can counter the growing Chinese presence effectively. Suyesha Dutta, an independent foreign policy analyst based in New Delhi, noted that India could do more to counter China in the region. 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In April 2025, India and Sri Lanka signed a five-year memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation, which will govern port calls and high-level military exchanges. Still, Commodore Chitrapu Uday Bhaskar, a retired military officer who served in the Indian Navy, noted that China has deeper pockets than India. China has infrastructural investments in countries like Sri Lanka, where it is operating the Hambantota Port. 'Delhi is constrained by its ability to fund such long-term investments in the manner that China is doing, but it is seeking to maximise the geographic assets it has been endowed with,' he said. 'In the long term, the elephant and the dragon will have to find consensual strategic accommodation in the Indian Ocean region.' - The Straits Times/ANN


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