May 10-16, 2025
Ethio Telecom launches digital marketplace; Getachew Reda spills the beans; MOH threatens EHPM; Judges silenced in Amhara; Deja Vu in Tigray; FDI up $1.6 billion; Coffee booms & textiles plummet.
Business & Finance
Ethio Telecom launched Zemen GEBEYA, Ethiopia’s first-ever national digital marketplace, on May 7. Learn more here.
Safaricom Ethiopia’s customer base has hit 8.8 million despite registering an ETB 47 billion loss this year. Learn more about Safaricom Ethiopia’s operations here.
DHL Express Ethiopia announced a 35% salary increase after employees of its Addis Ababa & Hawassa offices went on strike from May 8-13.
Afreximbank unveiled a new $1 billion Africa Film Fund aimed at accelerating the growth of Africa’s film & television industry.
UAE-based Gulf Ingot Multimodal, one of 6 newly licensed multimodal operators, announced that it will commence operations soon.
China’s Huajian Group is preparing to open an EV assembly plant in the Eastern Industrial Zone (EIZ) in Dukem amidst the launch of a new automotive development policy.
Several companies operating in Mekelle Industrial Park (MIP) expressed intentions to relocate to other countries, citing security concerns.
Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX) & the International Finance Corporation (IFC) launched the Ethiopia Money Market Capacity Building Project on May 14.
Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics (ESL) is in discussions with banks to negotiate an agreement regarding "excessively high” bank service charges.
COOP launched digital electricity bill payment services, Dashen Bank entered the digital fuel payment sector, & Siinqee Bank is preparing to establish Siinqee Group. In other banking news, learn more about Sharia-compliant banks here.
Economy & Development
The Invest in Ethiopia 2025 High-Level Business Forum took place from May 12-13 & secured long-term foreign investments amounting to $1.6 billion in the energy, ICT, manufacturing, agribusiness and mining sectors.
The Made in Ethiopia expo took place from May 3-7 in Addis Ababa. Read more about the expo here and learn more about Ethiopia’s manufacturing sector here.
The NBE governor announced that foreign banks will begin operations in Ethiopia before the end of 2025.
The gap between the official & parallel market forex rates stood at around ETB 24 this week as the official rate averaged at ETB 133 per dollar while the black market rate averaged at ETB 157 per dollar. Find different banks’ forex rates here and read more about this week’s forex market here.
A new USDA report projected that wheat imports will decline by 24% in 2018 E.C as production will hit 6.5 million tons, reflecting a 5% year-on-year increase. PM Abiy had previously claimed that production hit 15 million tons in 2015 E.C.
The Industrial Parks Development Corporation recruited 36,600 new workers in the first 9 months of this fiscal year, but 37,000 have resigned amidst a sharp export slump.
Ethiopia exported 345,302 tons of coffee over the last 10 months, earning $1.8 billion & surpassing the initial target of $1.3 billion. Meanwhile, federal officials unveiled a new export-oriented strategy to capitalize on avocado production.
The Ministry of Mines reported that the NBE received 26 tons of gold over the last 9 months, with 10 tons provided by artisanal miners in Tigray.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) reported ETB 2.1 billion in revenue over the last 9 months.
A new ICG study revealed that social networks influence job opportunities more than skills do in Ethiopia, highlighting the negative impact on productivity.
Social Movements
Amnesty International called for the release of the President of the Ethiopian Health Professionals Association (EHPA), who has been detained since May 4 after expressing support for the health workers’ movement. Learn more about previous social movements in Ethiopia here.
Health professionals across the Amhara region & in Addis Ababa’s Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital held pre-strike protests on May 10-11 & May 12, respectively. Learn more about the plight of health workers here.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) revealed plans to significantly increase the healthcare sector’s budget in the next fiscal year in a May 12 interview, on the eve of a planned nationwide strike.
The Ethiopian Health Professionals’ Movement (EHPM) launched a partial nationwide strike on May 13, demanding fair pay & improved working conditions for health workers. Learn more about EHPM here. You can donate to the movement here.
The government deployed security forces in several public hospitals, conducting mass arrests in response to the ongoing partial strike. Some hospitals threatened staff with disciplinary action & over 80 health professionals have been detained so far. Find a list of all detained staff here.
MOH condemned the ongoing partial strike as “unacceptable” & threatened legal action against those who refuse to return to work in a May 15 statement. EPHA condemned MOH’s “dismissive” statement as a “blatant display of arrogance”.
EHPM announced a full & indefinite strike beginning on May 19, accusing the government of ignoring health workers’ demands & escalating intimidation tactics.
Society & Human Rights
Amnesty International called on the African Commission on Human & Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) to urge Ethiopia to stop the ongoing Road Corridor Development Project (RCDP) until an investigation is conducted. Learn more about the controversial RCDP in this analysis.
The Amhara Regional Supreme Court approved a bill prohibiting judges from expressing opinions on political, religious, or other “controversial social issues” on social media, effective May 14.
Press freedom is being steadily eroded amidst a renewed “climate of fear”, with at least 7 journalists arrested just this month. Learn more about the current media climate here.
Security concerns along the Bahir Dar-Addis Ababa road have restricted freedom of movement, forcing residents to resort to expensive air travel.
The National Dialogue Commission (NDC) said the participation of women & scholars in the National Dialogue is “lower than expected”. The Ethiopian Women’s Federation recently submitted their agendas to the NDC.
The EOTC Patriarch said the Holy Synod would prioritize efforts to reunite with the breakaway TOTC. Expressing deep concern over the suffering of the Ethiopian people, he called for dialogue & a peaceful resolution to ongoing conflicts in the country.
Governance & Corruption
A new Ministry of Education (MOE) directive imposing penalties on schools scoring below 25% in the national exit exam for 3 consecutive years has been met with criticism from educational associations.
The Ministry of Transport & Logistics (MOTL) is investigating the Air Navigation Services over compliance with international standards after incidents involving aircraft flying in dangerously close proximity.
The Institution of the Ombudsman reported that teachers in the Benishangul Gumuz, Somali & Afar regions are being forced to teach subjects they aren’t qualified to teach, simply because they can speak the regional language.
The Addis Ababa City Administration (AACA) launched a new cashless payment platform in 10 parking lots to increase revenue and improve transparency.
A new AACA directive prohibits public transport employees from consuming alcohol, cigarettes, or khat while on duty, & imposes penalties on offenders.
AACA & China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) jointly launched a massive Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project in the Gotera neighborhood.
Ethiopia established an Appeals Hearing Council to oversee the appeals of refugees & asylum seekers regarding decisions on their status.
Humanitarian Needs
A FSIN report warned that huge cuts to humanitarian funding will exacerbate a global food crisis that saw nearly 300 million face high levels of acute food insecurity in 2024.
UN OCHA’s Emergency Shelter Non-food Item Cluster has raised the alarm over funding shortfalls, calling for at least $20.2 million. Learn more about Ethiopia’s efforts to address aid shortages here.
The USAID suspension has significantly impacted vulnerable populations in the Afar region, & disrupted efforts to control the spread of HIV in southern Ethiopia.
Democratization
The anniversary of Ethiopia’s brutal 2005 election took place on May 16, marking 20 years since over 200 election protestors were killed. Learn more about the 2005 election and its aftermath here and here. Find the 2005 election report here.
The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) launched the 2nd phase of the digital registration of polling stations in preparation for the 2026 Elections.
Opposition parties EPRP, Enat Party, AEUP & AGM issued a May 12 joint statement urging the government to release political prisoners & create a peaceful, competitive political environment ahead of the 2026 Elections.
Opposition OFC announced the illegal arrest of its Central Committee member on April 30, highlighting that only 3 of its 206 offices in the Oromia region remain operational today due to intimidation from government forces.
Opposition ONLF accused the government & NEBE of attempting to dismantle its democratically elected leadership, warning that the political pressure could push the ONLF to return to armed struggle.
Politics
The Tigray Tourism Bureau accused Ethiopian Airlines of preventing foreign tourists & project partners from boarding flights to the region since May 10, & claimed that foreigners are being urged to leave Tigray.
TPLF issued a May 9 statement, warning that the refusal to reinstate its legal recognition poses a “serious threat” to the peace process & undermines the Pretoria Peace Agreement (PPA).
NEBE has revoked the TPLF’s legal status as a political party, effective May 13. This marks the 2nd time that NEBE rescinded TPLF’s status since 2020.
The TPLF warned the AU that the NEBE’s decision to revoke its legal status poses risks to the PPA & urged the AU to intervene in a May 15 letter. Learn more about the situation in this analysis and this op-ed.
Getachew Reda accused 3 high-level TDF generals of corruption & human trafficking, & condemned TPLF leaders for seeking to “collaborate with Fano militias and Eritrea” in a May 12 interview with state-owned Fana BC. Learn more in Part 1 and Part 2 of the interview.
The Tigray Regional Peace & Security Bureau issued a May 16 statement denouncing the NEBE’s decision, accusing the government of “provocation” & accusing Getachew Reda of disseminating disinformation in a recent interview.
The Tigray Interim Administration (TIA) approved the departure of 2 senior Tigray Regional Supreme Court officials who had asked to resign nearly a year ago.
Conflict & Security
A new UNIDIR report examines the collapse of the 2018 peace agreement between the Ethiopian government & the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). Learn more about the conflict in Oromia here.
Residents of Amuru woreda, Horro Guduru Wollega zone, Oromia region reported that government security forces are targeting the families of suspected OLA members with house burnings and mass detentions.
Residents of East Borena zone, Oromia region reported a May 8 attack by the OLA resulting in the abduction of 18 people, including 13 government employees.
Unidentified armed men killed 1 police officer and injured 3 others in the Gamo zone, South region in a May 11 attack. Security forces responded with retaliatory violence, killing 3 civilians & burning several homes over the next 3 days.
4 fishermen were killed in Kenya’s Turkana country following a May 14 cross-border ambush by attackers from the Dassanech woreda of the South Omo zone, South region.
Geopolitics
The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee (FRC) held a May 13 hearing on escalating Ethio-Eritrean tensions, condemning Eritrean presence in disputed border areas of Tigray & calling for the full implementation of the PPA.
Eritrea issued a May 16 statement accusing the US Senate FRC of repeating “misconceptions & unsubstantiated allegations” about its military activity and border disputes during a recent hearing.
A new book titled My Struggle for Eritrea & Africa explores Eritrean President Isaias Afeworki’s views on various domestic, regional & international issues. Pre-order it here.
Egypt is building a coalition of security partners with Nile Basin countries to counter Ethiopian influence over the Nile. Learn more about Ethio-Egyptian relations and the regional implications of the dam here.
A shift in Djibouti’s immigration policy enforcement has led undocumented Ethiopian migrants to leave Djibout en masse. Learn more about Ethio-Djiboutian relations here.
Tanzania arrested 30 undocumented Ethiopians found hiding on a maize farm en route to South Africa.
COMESA Week took place in Addis Ababa this week.