Sheikh Ibrahim Tufa, President of the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, visited the Iranian Embassy in Addis Ababa today to express formal condolences following the death of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The visit follows official reports confirming the passing of the 86-year-old leader on February 28, 2026. During the visit, Sheikh Ibrahim met with Iranian diplomatic staff to convey the sympathies of the Ethiopian Muslim community and to acknowledge the significant role the late leader played in regional and religious affairs over his thirty-six years in power.
During the engagement, the President signed a book of condolences opened at the embassy for international representatives and local dignitaries. This diplomatic protocol serves to record the official sentiments of the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council during Iran’s forty-day period of national mourning. Sheikh Ibrahim reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peaceful relations and mutual respect between religious and state institutions, emphasizing that such moments of loss are felt by many within the global faith community.
In his official remarks, Sheikh Ibrahim Tufa described the passing of the Supreme Leader as a notable loss for the Islamic world. He characterized the event as a “great loss not only for Iranians but for Muslims across the entire globe,” reflecting on the leader’s long tenure since 1989. While the circumstances surrounding the leader’s death have been the subject of varying international reports, the Council’s message focused on the spiritual impact of his leadership and the void left behind for his followers and the people of Iran.
The Iranian Embassy expressed its gratitude to Sheikh Ibrahim for his visit and for the solidarity shown by the Ethiopian Muslim leadership. Embassy officials noted that the gesture underscores the enduring ties between the people of Ethiopia and Iran. As the Iranian government begins the process of transition to select a successor, the embassy in Addis Ababa continues to serve as a focal point for those wishing to pay their respects to the late leader and observe the ongoing national mourning rites.