April 5-11, 2025
NEBE nominations commence; Egypt joins AUSSOM; "EthioAid" to replace USAID; MOE to launch National Service; PM Abiy appoints new TIA President; Media freedom tanks; ONLF infighting continues.
Business & Finance
State-owned CBE expressed concern that 3 regional states have shifted their deposits from CBE to newly formed regional banks. Despite this, CBE collected ETB 367.4 billion in deposits over the last 8 months, marking a 344.4% increase from the same period last year.
KEFI Gold & Copper announced that preparations to launch its Tulu Kapi gold project are progressing on multiple fronts. Meanwhile, Etno Mining & YMG both halted operations within 5 months of inauguration while MIDROC reported reduced production due to landslides.
Ethiopia signed carbon trading agreements totaling $70 million after the country’s forest cover reportedly increased to 23.6%.
The Ethio-Djibouti Railway Share Company announced plans to begin ferrying all petroleum imports from Djibouti by train starting in September 2025 in a bid to address chronic fuel shortages across the country.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) announced a $100 million debt financing package for Raxio Group, a major data-center operator with an operational hub in Ethiopia.
Chapa has partnered with the Ethiopian Postal Office to simplify and accelerate access to the Fayda national digital ID.
An EU delegation proposed the enhancement of Ethiopia’s “one-stop shop” at the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC) to facilitate foreign investments.
Lake transport administrators in Bahir Dar, Amhara Region reported a significant decline in passenger numbers due to ongoing insecurity amidst fuel shortages.
Economy & Development
The Official Creditors Committee (OCC) is set to finalize Ethiopia’s debt restructuring plan in the coming months. The plan will allow the government more time to pay but will not include an outright debt reduction.
The Ministry of Finance (MOF) reported that the government disbursed 25% less than the ETB 429 billion it had earmarked for the first half of the fiscal year. Meanwhile, revenue fell 15% short of the target.
The EU announced an ETB 32 billion grant to support post-war reconstruction, green development, private sector growth & the building of democratic institutions over the next 5 years.
The Ministry of Trade & Regional Integration (MOTRI) is working with stakeholders to finalize the 1st consolidated trade policy, trying to spur resource mobilization & unified implementation as part of Ethiopia’s bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE)’s 2015 E.C audit details the NBE’s struggle with losses in forex dealing and gold trading, as well as mounting government debt. Find the full report here.
The Ministry of Mines (MOM) reported that 22.5 tons of gold were supplied to the NBE over the last 8 months, attributing the record high to the macroeconomic reform. Mineral exports generated nearly $1.9 billion over the same period, with gold accounting for the bulk.
A draft Financial Service Code is nearing completion as regulators move ahead with liberalizing the banking sector. Find the new Banking proclamation here.
The insurance industry is bracing for major changes as a new NBE directive compels firms to adopt a risk-based capital framework amidst a shortage of qualified personnel. Learn more about health insurance in Ethiopia in this interview.
Society & Human Rights
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) urged authorities to drop terrorism investigations against at least 7 EBS journalists arrested over allegations of fabricating a documentary on a 2020 abduction & rape case involving military personnel.
The 2016 E.C audit report of the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) presented to parliament on April 2 highlighted concerns over rampant government censorship.
The Tigray Judges Association expressed concern over growing “internal & external” pressure on judges handling rape & murder cases in the region, warning that such interference is threatening judicial independence in an April 5 statement.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission raised alarm over challenges faced by IDPs returning to contested areas in the Tigray region, highlighting restricted freedom of movement & insufficient access to essential services such as education & healthcare.
A new cooperation framework was launched between the Authority for CSOs (ACSO) and the Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations Council (ECSOC) in a bid to enhance the role of civil society in governance.
Ethiopian health workers launched a coordinated social media campaign demanding fair compensation, health insurance coverage, & improved benefits. Organizers warned that a strike could follow if the calls go unanswered.
Federal Police are reportedly collecting records from health facilities visited by the late Keneni Adugna, who died a month ago under suspicious circumstances. Her fiancé, singer Andualem Gosa, is currently detained in connection with her death".
Governance & Corruption
The Ministry of Education (MOE) announced plans to introduce a national service program in 2027 that will require university students to serve their communities or teach for a year before they can graduate.
A new study identified overcrowded classrooms, poor infrastructure & unmotivated, underpaid teachers as reasons for the low pass rate on the 12th grade national exit exam. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labor & Skills (MOLS) attributed the low pass rate to the removal of the 10th grade national exam, sparking anger and skepticism from lawmakers.
A recent study revealed low levels of literacy among elementary school students, wth 48% struggling to distinguish letters, words & sounds properly.
Fertilizer distribution has been severely disrupted in the Amhara region after Fano militias ordered farmers not to buy fertilizer at the price of ETB 8,000 per quintal set by regional authorities & instead demand that prices be reduced to ETB 4,000.
Local authorities reportedly ordered Addis Ababa residents to cease sewage disposal or pay up to ETB 400,000 in fines, sparking confusion and anger.
The Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA) criticized the Ethiopia Media Council (EMC)’s recent attempts to register & issue unified professional identity cards and certificates of competence for journalists, highlighting that such actions are beyond EMC’s legal mandate.
A study by the Rift Valley Institute found that recurrent network shutoffs imposed due to ongoing security issues in the border regions has led to the stagnant growth of the digital landscape in those regions.
Humanitarian Needs
The Disaster Risk Management Commission (DRMC) alleged that humanitarian needs have decreased by 86% compared to the last 5 years. However, the number of people who need humanitarian assistance has increased from around 8.4 million in 2020 to 21.4 million in 2025, representing an 87% increase.
The government announced that it will soon launch “Ethio-Aid”, a national disaster response mechanism intended to address emergencies using domestically mobilized resources in the wake of the USAID suspension, with 3% of next year’s annual budget to be allocated to the initiative. Ethio-Aid will also provide humanitarian support to neighboring countries.
The recent freeze on USAID funds has suspended 45 projects with a total budget of ETB 9.2 billion in the Amhara region, and resulted in the suspension of food assistance for over 1 million people in the Tigray region, with reports of people dying in IDP camps as a result.
The Amhara Regional Public Health Institute urged the government to impose “temporary restrictions” to curb the spread of a cholera outbreak in the region.
Gambella regional officials reported that the region is struggling to accommodate an influx of South Sudanese refugees fleeing conflict, especially amidst the ongoing cholera outbreak.
A recent study confirmed that the GERD meets international safety standards, assuring that it does not pose a threat to either Sudan or Egypt.
Politics
The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) announced that 3 of its members will be replaced as their terms are about to end. The nomination process will begin on April 9. The 8 members of the committee tasked with selecting new board members were all appointed by PM Abiy Ahmed.
PM Abiy Ahmed bid farewell to Getachew Reda, the outgoing President of the Tigray Interim Administration (TIA), on April 7. PM Abiy praised Getachew’s leadership in maintaining peace in Tigray since his appointment in March 2023. Learn more in an interview with Getachew Reda here.
TDF Lt. General Tadesse Werede was appointed as the new TIA President on April 8, replacing Getachew Reda, and held his first cabinet meeting on April 10. During the ceremony, Lt. Gen. Tadesse pledged to put an end to all activities that violate “national sovereignty, the constitutional order, and the Pretoria Peace Agreement”. Learn more in this op-ed.
TPLF Chairman Debretsion G/Michael pledged to fully support the new TIA administration led by Lt. Gen. Tadesse Werede while reaffirming the TPLF’s institutional independence.
Former TIA President Getachew Reda sharply criticized his successor, Lt. Gen. Tadesse Werede, for his inability to fulfill his duties in his former role as head of the regional armed forces & expressed regret for not removing him from his position in an April 10 interview.
PM Abiy Ahmed appointed former TIA President Getachew Reda as his East African Affairs advisor effective April 11, coinciding with increased tensions in the Horn of Africa.
The ONLF issued an April 9 statement condemning a “fake Central Committee (CC) meeting” illegally organized by a pro-government ONLF faction & criticizing the NEBE for attending & legitimizing the meeting. Meanwhile, the ONLF faction denounced a call by the ONLF Chairperson & other CC members to reject the 2018 peace deal and re-instigate armed struggle.
The National Dialogue Commission (NDC) undertook agenda-gathering activities in the Amhara region from April 5-9. Proposed agendas include the cessation of civilian killings by warring forces in the region, the legal & political status of Addis Ababa, & the restoration of historic territories that were “forcefully given” to neighboring regions, including Wolkayt & Raya from Tigray, Metekel from Benishangul Gumuz & Dera from Oromia.
The NDC announced its commitment to creating platforms to allow armed groups to contribute their agendas for the upcoming National Dialogue.
Conflict & Security
The ENDF issued an April 6 statement announcing that it has killed a “close associate” of OLA leader Jaal Marroo known as Shode in the East Wollega zone, Oromia region. Shode was reportedly a member of the OLA delegation during the Dar es Salaam peace talks.
The Apostolic Vicariate of Harar reported that a Catholic bishop & 12 others were kidnapped for ransom on March 23 by the OLA in the Oromia region. Although an ETB 800,000 ransom was paid, the bishop’s whereabouts remain unknown.
Over 20 people were killed & several others kidnapped for ransom in the Horro Guduru Wollega zone, Oromia region in an April 6 cross-border attack by gunmen reportedly from the Amhara region.
Residents & drivers reported increasing insecurity along the Addis Ababa-Selale-Gojjam road, highlighting increasingly frequent kidnappings & attacks by various armed groups.
In an exclusive interview, an OLA representative stated that the ongoing conflicts in the Amhara & Oromia regions continue to cause immense human suffering.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned that weapon contamination continues to endanger communities in Tigray & Oromia as unexploded ordinances & other remnants continue to pose risks to civilians.
Geopolitics
The AU & Somalia approved the deployment of 2,500 Ethiopian troops to the AU Support & Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). Egypt is also set to contribute nearly 1,100 troops to AUSSOM. Uganda will be contributing the most troops at 4,500. Learn more about Ethiopia-Somalia relations here.
Ethiopia & Uganda signed a 8 Bilateral Cooperation Agreements in various fields ranging from aviation to minerals to water resources & agriculture on April 4.
The National Security Council reiterated Ethiopia's commitment to securing maritime access, deeming it central to safeguarding national interests. Learn more about Ethiopia's ambitions for sea access here and here.
The Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR) warned that “social media platforms are spreading violent warmongering content encouraging another Ethio-Eritrean war, urging international & regional actors to act swiftly to prevent another war. Learn more about the possibility of another Ethio-Eritrean war here and here.
General Michael Langley, head of US AFRICOM, pledged to counter threats from terrorist organizations and deter Chinese & Russian influence in Africa.
The Centre for Global Development (CDG) asserted that tariffs imposed by President Trump have created an “inexplicably cruel situation” in Africa. The Chinese government also recently condemned the tariffs, warning about the impacts of a trade war. However, Ethiopia has welcomed the tariffs, asserting that they could make Ethiopian exports more competitive in the US market.
The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) held its 5th Country & Stakeholder Symposium focused on exploring how Africa can mobilize its own institutional savings to achieve national development priorities on April 8.
The Israeli Ambassador to Ethiopia was removed from an April 7 AU conference commemorating the Rwandan Genocide after member states refused to attend the event alongside him. Hamas has welcomed the move.