March 8-14, 2025
PM inaugurates drone manufacturing facility; Land lease rates spike 4500% in Shaggar; Coup attempts in Tigray; AA auctions off 300 plots; ET-Eri war preparations reportedly reaching "final stages".
Business & Finance
Kefi Gold & Copper reported that preparations for the Tulu Kapi gold project are progressing well, with all parties moving towards signing the financing deal. The project has secured a $240 million loan package & the required documentation is set to be finalized by March 31, 2025.
Kegna Beverages is investing $250 million to expand its beer production in Ethiopia, with a new factory in Ginchi to employ 450 people and use local barley.
LEX Africa welcomed DABLO Law Firm as its exclusive member in Ethiopia on March 5, expanding its presence to 30 countries across Africa.
PM Abiy Ahmed inaugurated the newly built Sky Win Aeronautics Industries, a drone manufacturing facility producing AI-integrated drones for civilian and military use, as well as for export.
Selecta Group is relocating its URC production from Kunzila, Ethiopia to Kenya and Uganda, citing political instability and safety concerns. The closure will result in over 1,000 job losses.
SBG Industry Plc, producer of ‘Arki’ water, has suspended operations for two weeks due to a dispute with the Shaggar City Administration over its sudden demand for an upfront payment of ETB 18 million following a sudden 4500% increase in land lease rates.
EthioPotash has become the 3rd company to see its concession for potash extraction in the Afar region revoked by the Ministry of Mines over the past few weeks in light of production failures.
Ethiopian Railways Corporation (ERC) and Korea’s Korail signed an MoU to enhance cooperation, forming a working group for information sharing and project discussions. Meanwhile, the Ethio-Djibouti Railway has obtained an MTO license
State-owned Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics Services Enterprise announced plans to purchase six new cargo ships to enhance its maritime trade capabilities.
Economy & Development
A draft directive by the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) aims to improve insurance company governance, focusing on board independence, gender diversity, and employee participation. In other news, the Ethiopian Insurance Corporation (EIC) has appointed a new CEO, Abel Tadesse.
A Committee of Experts met in Addis Ababa ahead of the 2025 Conference of African Ministers of Finance to review Africa's economic development and progress towards regional integration, with a focus on advancing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Addis Ababa Investors Forum (AAIF), representing over 65,000 investors, raised concerns over mounting challenges in the city, citing unjustified closures, demolitions, expropriations, high taxes, harassment, and restrictions on banking and travel. The forum plans to collect investor grievances from March 10–27, 2025, to negotiate solutions with authorities.
The Smallholder Farmers Garden Empowerment and Promotion (SHEP) initiative, which has resulted in a 129% increase in farmers' income, has faced implementation challenges due to inefficiencies within the government’s organizational structure.
The AFDB presidential candidate met with Ethiopian entrepreneurs to discuss innovation and entrepreneurship.
Society & Human Rights
Ethiopian Airlines (ETH) marked International Women’s Day with 6 all-female-functioned flights to Athens, Bahir Dar, Delhi, Dubai, Windhoek & São Paulo on March 8.
The Gudina Tumsa Foundation (GTF) held a successful consultative meeting on the current state of women’s economic empowerment in Oromia
Evangelist Franklin Graham preached to over 400,000 people over the weekend at Meskel square as part of his 2-day “Encountering God Ethiopia” outreach.
The US State Department has placed Ethiopia on its "Do Not Travel" list due to escalating security risks, political instability, and ongoing conflicts.
Governance & Corruption
Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU) announced that it will implement a tariff increase every 3 months beginning in April.
A report from the Ethiopian Statistical Service (ESS) estimates that Ethiopia’s population had reached 109.4 million by July 2024, contradicting data from other sources and statements from officials that cite significantly higher figures.
The Addis Ababa Land Development and Administration Bureau is auctioning over 300 plots across the city, opening on March 10, 2025, for nearly two weeks. This marks the fifth auction since the process resumed in 2024.
The Addis Ababa City Administration has canceled the Customs Commission's plans to build a new headquarters on a 12,000 sq/m plot in Kirkos Sub-city, as the plot will now be used for the expansion of the Oromia Cultural Center.
Addis Ababa taxi drivers are calling for urgent tariff adjustments for nighttime operations, citing increased costs & safety concerns stemming from new city regulations mandating extended operating hours.
Addis Ababa’s Reppi Waste-to-Energy plant is operating at 50% capacity due to faulty machinery and maintenance issues, forcing the City Administration to pay Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) ETB 240 million annually for power quota shortfalls.
Farmers in the South Wollo zone, Amhara region expressed concern about the soaring cost of fertilizer, highlighting that prices increased from ETB 3,770 just 15 days ago to about ETB 12,000 this week.
On March 11, Ethiopia announced plans to launch its 3rd Earth observation satellite (EOS) in 2026 with China’s support.
Humanitarian Needs
The USAID shutdown has negatively impacted relief operations in the Tigray region and beyond, with food aid distribution suspended for over 1 million people in Tigray and over 100,000 people in the North Wollo zone of the Amhara region.
Humanitarian agencies are raising alarm over an escalating malnutrition crisis, as malnutrition rates in several regions have “surpassed the critical threshold of 15%”. Learn more about humanitarian conditions in Ethiopia here and here.
WHO reported a significant decline in severe cholera cases in the Gambella region, with daily counts dropping from 55 to 14 within 10 days of WHO’s intervention. The region had witnessed 31 cholera deaths in just the last month.
Politics
The TPLF faction led by TPLF Chairman Debretsion G/Michael forcibly took control of key administrative structures of the Tigray Interim Administration (TIA), including Mekelle FM 104.4 & the Mayor’s Offices in Adi Gudom, Mekelle & Adigrat. TIA President Getachew Reda accused the opposing faction of mounting a coup against the TIA & called for the immediate cessation of all unauthorized military activities carried out without the knowledge of the TIA.
Tigray Interim Administration (TIA) President Getachew Reda suspended 3 senior commanders of the regional security forces on March 11 amidst escalating tensions between the 2 TPLF factions. The Tigray Peace & Security Bureau rejected the suspension, asserting that the decision “does not follow institutional procedures & law”.
Opposition Salsawi Woyane accused senior commanders of the Tigray security forces of imposing a de facto martial law in the region without the authorization of the TIA, emphasizing that this violates human rights & undermines stability in the region.
The TIA urged the federal government to “understand” the worsening crisis in Tigray & “provide necessary support” in a March 12 statement. In response, the opposing TPLF faction rejected the call for “third party intervention”. Afterwards, in a March 13 press briefing, TIA President Getachew clarified that he had not “asked the federal government to deploy the military” but stressed that the government must act to “rescue the IRA” & called on the federal government to refrain from negotiating with the opposing TPLF faction.
TIA President Getachew Reda accused Eritrea of being “among those who think they can benefit from turmoil in Tigray” & warned that “certain TPLF groups who have lost legal acceptance” are working to destabilize the region during a March 13 press briefing. The federal government also accused the opposing TPLF faction of having ties & cooperation with an unspecified “rival foreign power”.
The National Rehabilitation Commission (NRC) announced that the DDR process in Tigray is set to resume this week after being stalled since late last year due to technical & political challenges.
Security forces in Benishangul Gumuz region arrested an opposition regional MP, Yohannes Tessema, following his petition to the federal Constitutional Inquiry Council challenging a recent amendment to the regional constitution.
The Somali Regional State Communication Affairs Bureau refuted claims by the Somali Federalist Party regarding alleged corruption and stalled infrastructure projects, calling the allegations “false” and part of a “defamation campaign.”
Opposition ONLF issued a statement strongly condemning the Somali Regional State’s Energy and Mining Office for holding a meeting with Poly-GCL, calling it an attempt to “plunder Somali resources” while ignoring the political rights of the Somali people, & warning of “repercussions”.
Opposition EZEMA has accused the government of coercing citizens into making financial contributions to the ruling Prosperity Party.
The OLA issued a March 9 press release condemning PM Abiy Ahmed’s recent initiative in Oromia, claiming it’s a regime-backed plot to co-opt opposition and pressure the OLA into a controlled “unity government”.
Conflict & Security
Tigray security forces loyal to the TPLF faction led by TPLF Chairman Debretsion G/Michael opened fire on civilian protesters in Adi Gudom town on March 11, leaving 4 people seriously injured & resulting in unspecified casualties.
A March 11 ambush by Fano militias resulted in the deaths of 1 Woreda administrator, 1 woreda police commander & 1 driver in the South Wollo zone of the Amhara region.
Residents reported at least 8 civilian deaths in the East and West Gojjam zones following violent clashes between government forces & the Fano militia.
1 church teacher and 4 students were killed while 4 others were injured following an attack in the disputed Raya Alamata Timuga kebele last weekend.
Residents reported 2 civilian deaths in the Kore zone, South region following a cross-border attack reportedly carried out by OLA militants from the West Guji zone, Oromia region.
Geopolitics
The TIA Deputy President warned that a war between Ethiopia & Eritrea “seems inevitable” with preparations reaching their “final stages” & Tigray at risk of becoming the main battleground in a March 10 article. Learn more about the risks for another Ethio-Eritrean war here.
Ethiopian forces have initiated substantial military operations targeting Al-Shabab following the group’s recent seizure of Balcad, a strategically significant town approximately 35 km from Mogadishu.
A group of Western embassies, including the US and EU member states, have called for de-escalation of tensions and urged all parties in Ethiopia's Tigray region to engage in dialogue. The AU also issued a March 14 statement affirming its commitment to the Pretoria Peace Agreement & urging all parties to engage in dialogue.
The EU has signaled its intention to revisit visa restrictions imposed on Ethiopia, citing progress on key issues & the restoration of trust between Ethiopia and the EU.
The ENDF Chief of Staff and Rwanda’s Army Chief of Staff signed a March 13 defense cooperation pledging to collaborate in various military sectors.
The Tanzanian Government defended its decision to import electricity from Ethiopia via Kenya during a March 9 inauguration of a water project in Kilimanjaro.