Business

When the State Becomes the Startup: Ethiopia’s Digital Ambition and the Quiet Suffocation of Innovation

Ethiopia, a nation long preoccupied with the analog burdens of governance—poverty, infrastructure, conflict, bureaucracy—is racing into the digital age with remarkable speed. In the past few years, government agencies and state-owned enterprises have rolled out an impressive catalogue of platforms: a national health “super-app,” an all-encompassing e-commerce marketplace, a domestic card scheme, virtual gambling portals,

January 1, 2026 • By Addis Insight

Business

The Bet that Failed: An Exclusive Investigation into the Siege of betPawa

Addis Insight Exclusive: Inside the NLA Dossier In the high-stakes world of digital expansion, Ethiopia has long been a fortress. While its neighbors embraced the frenetic growth of the pan-African betting boom, Addis Ababa maintained a posture of wary skepticism. But as 2025 drew to a close, that skepticism curdled into an outright offensive. Documents

January 1, 2026 • By Addis Insight

Business

Ethiopia Plans Tax on High-Earning TikTokers and YouTubers Under New Draft Law

A new draft regulation prepared by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance proposes that digital content creators earning more than two million birr annually from platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, podcasts, and live-streaming services be classified as business operators and required to pay business income tax. The regulation outlines detailed tax obligations for digital creators, expanding

December 30, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Uncategorized

Ethiopia Ends Decades-Old Minimum Savings Rate as Central Bank Deepens Market-Driven Monetary Policy

Addis Ababa, Dec. 30, 2025 — Ethiopia’s central bank has scrapped the country’s long-standing 7% minimum savings deposit rate, a policy in place for decades, marking one of the most sweeping financial sector reforms in recent years as the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) moves toward a fully market-based interest-rate regime. The National Bank’s Monetary

December 30, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Ethio Telecom Announces Tariff Adjustment Amid Rising Costs and Macroeconomic Pressures

Ethio Telecom has announced a modest adjustment to its telecom tariffs, citing rising operating costs and challenging macroeconomic conditions, while emphasizing its continued commitment to affordability and digital inclusion. The decision comes after six consecutive years of tariff reductions, infrastructure expansion, and service discounts that significantly widened access to telecommunications services across Ethiopia. According to

December 29, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Ethiopian Achieves Major MRO Breakthrough with First A350-900 Full Strip and Paint Program in Africa

Ethiopian Airlines, the leading carrier in Africa and one of the fastest-growing airline brands globally, is proud to announce the successful completion of Africa’s first full strip-and-paint program of the Airbus A350-900 aircraft on two of its aircraft, marking a significant advancement in Ethiopian MRO’s capacity, technical expertise, and commitment to operational excellence. This achievement

December 26, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Entertainment & Arts

Why Ethiopia Is Afraid of TikTokers

In late 2025, Addis Ababa staged what was supposed to be a cultural milestone. The TikTok Creative Awards — glossy stage lights, influencer gowns, nervous laughter — was meant to signal that Ethiopia had entered the global creator economy. Instead, it became a spectacle of political anxiety. Within days, police rounded up several of the

December 26, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Health

The Health Deals America Is Signing Across Africa Are Raising Questions—Except in Ethiopia, Where Silence Prevails

In Kenya, the first alarm did not come from politicians or diplomats. It came from a courtroom. A $2.5 billion United States health partnership—celebrated by the government as a breakthrough—was abruptly halted by a judge amid growing fears that the deal might quietly pry open access to Kenyans’ medical histories. The debate escalated almost overnight

December 25, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Dashen Bank Reports Record Revenue of 31.4 Billion Birr, Strengthening Its Position in Ethiopia’s Banking Sector

Dashen Bank has announced a historic financial performance for the recently concluded 2017 Ethiopian fiscal year, recording total revenue of 31.4 billion birr—a remarkable 34 percent increase compared to the previous year. The milestone highlights the bank’s resilience, strong operational strategies, and ability to thrive despite Ethiopia’s challenging macroeconomic conditions. According to the bank’s annual

December 25, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Safaricom Ethiopia Raises Data Package Prices by Up to 82%,

Safaricom Ethiopia has introduced a significant revision to its mobile internet packages, increasing costs by 20 percent to 82 percent across several daily, weekly, monthly, and long-term bundles. The new tariffs took effect on December 14, 2018 E.C., and have immediately drawn strong reactions from subscribers, many of whom say the changes drastically reduce affordability.

December 24, 2025 • By Addis Insight