How Ethiopia's Fintech Boom Bypassed Its Farmers

Ethiopia's payment rails moved 18.5 trillion Birr last year. Its farmers, a third of the economy, drew 52 billion in credit. Digital finance and agriculture grew up as strangers. Will they finally meet?

The 11.5 Percent Question: A Rent Ceiling Calibrated to an Inflation Rate Addis Ababa No Longer Has

Addis Ababa has capped rent growth to 11.5% for the year. Urbanites are dealing with 15% food inflation wondering if the housing bureau can actually deliver on its promise.

Ethio Telecom Wins the Year It Redrew

Ethio Telecom’s year in one line: Strong growth, softer targets, shifting fundamentals. Telebirr is big, but not lucrative. Competition is small but growing. The headline says “outperformance. ” Numbers say “transition.”

Ethiopia's Fintechs Form a United Front as Regulator Works on Rewriting the Rules

Ethiopia’s fintech boom is real, but so are its gaps: low engagement, limited merchant use, uneven access. A new industry association signals a shift from growth to influence.

What the IMF Fifth Review Actually Says About Ethiopia's Reform Trajectory

The press release said "solid progress." The staff report said enterprise risk has risen since the fourth review and all three top-tier external risks are rated high likelihood.

Liberalization of Ethiopia’s Banking Sector: Foreign Entry, Competition, and Digital Finance

Ethiopia’s banking sector is coming full circle. From foreign-led origins to decades of closure, the 2025 reforms mark a pivotal reopening. What does this mean for competition, capital, and financial inclusion?

Ethiopia's Electric Leap and the Road It Hasn't Built

Ethiopia banned petrol car imports in 2024. EVs are now 60%+ of new registrations. But only 22% of households have a metered grid connection, and just 27% will by 2030.

Addis Moves to Stabilize Construction Inputs with New Mineral Licensing

Addis Ababa’s new construction minerals directive introduces tighter licensing, environmental guarantees, and exclusion zones