Horn News Hub | August 18, 2026
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce Mark Mitchell completed his first visit to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, marking a moment officials described as symbolic of the long-standing relationship between the United States and Ethiopia.
While the trip was Mitchell’s first to the country, his family’s ties to Ethiopia date back more than 75 years. His father, Ralph Flint Mitchell Jr., served as a pilot for Ethiopian Airlines and was later appointed personal pilot to Emperor Haile Selassie.
In that role, the elder Mitchell accompanied the Emperor and Empress on international travel, including a trip commemorating the dedication of a Nile River bridge in May 1950. According to the information shared by US Embaasy to Ethiopua the royal dog also traveled aboard some of these flights.
During his meetings in Ethiopia, DAS Mitchell reflected on this family history, which officials characterized as a reminder of the decades-long partnership between the two nations. Photographs taken personally by Ralph Mitchell during his time flying Emperor Haile Selassie were shared alongside accounts of the visit.
The visit was tagged on social media with #usinethiopia, reflecting broader diplomatic engagement between Washington and Addis Ababa.
