Brigadier-General Mosese Tikoitoga was commissioned today as Fiji’s new resident-Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
Fiji’s mission in Ethiopia is a new mission in the African continent and replaces the one in Pretoria in South Africa, which has now closed.
Ambassador Tikoitoga took the oath of allegiance and oath of execution of office at the State House before His Excellency the President, Major General (Ret) Jioji Konousi Konrote. Senior government officials and members of Mr Tikoitoga’s immediate family also witnessed today’s commissioning ceremony.
Prior to his diplomatic appointment, Ambassador Tikoitoga was the former Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces before he resigned in 2015 to pursue a diplomatic career. Tikoitoga holds a Masters in Management in Defence Studies from Canberra University in Australia and holds a separate Masters of Philosophy in Defence and Strategic Studies from the Madras University in India.
Two senior mission staff left yesterday for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to begin preparations for Ambassador Tikoitoga’s arrival in the next few days. They are Mr Ropate Cabealawa (Counsellor) and Mr Sisalo Otealagi (First Secretary). Mr Cabealawa is a former Director of the Oceania, Asia and Russia Bureau at the ministry. Prior to that, he served as a magistrate. Mr Otealagi is a former first secretary at the Fiji Mission in Pretoria, South Africa.
Ethiopia plays a significant geo-political role in the region, being the headquarters for the African Union (AU) and other key international agencies based in Addis Ababa.
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