Business

M-PESA Ethiopia Alleges Ethio Telecom Blocking Its New Lehulum Service on Mobile Data

Addis Ababa — December 5, 2025 M-PESA Ethiopia has accused Ethio Telecom of blocking mobile data access to its newly launched telecom-agnostic financial service, M-PESA ለሁሉም (Lehulum), a platform unveiled on December 1 with the promise of allowing any Ethiopian—regardless of telecom provider—to use M-PESA’s digital financial tools. In a public statement released today, the

December 5, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Uncategorized

Ethiopia Suspends Licenses of 22 Sports Betting Agencies Amid Massive Embezzlement Probe

The Ethiopian Lottery Service has suspended the operating licenses of 22 sports betting agencies, effective November 25, 2018, following a major multi-agency investigation into alleged large-scale embezzlement and illegal financial activities within the betting sector. According to the announcement, the decision follows intelligence reports indicating that several betting companies and their associates were involved in

December 4, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Opinion

Why the Birr Keeps Falling: Ethiopia’s Currency Crisis Is a Symptom, Not the Disease

By Kebour Ghenna Ethiopia is living through one of the most complex economic transitions in decades. The country has adopted an IMF-supported reform program, introduced new taxes, cut public spending, devalued its currency, and tightened monetary policy. Official statements describe this trajectory as a path toward macroeconomic stability. Yet the lived reality paints a different

December 3, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Entertainment & Arts

Federal Court Releases Yohannes Daniel and Fellow TikTokers After Airline Security Sentences

The 1st Special Criminal Court of the Federal High Court has ordered the release of Yohannes Daniel (also known as John Daniel), who had been charged with offenses related to airline security, ruling that the time he has already spent in prison satisfies the punishment imposed by the court. The ruling follows more than two

December 3, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

NBE Announces Forex Auction Results: 17 Banks Push Dollar Price to 154.3993 Br

Addis Ababa — The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) has released the results of its latest foreign exchange auction, marking another step in the ongoing shift toward a more market-responsive currency regime. According to the central bank, 17 commercial banks participated in today’s auction, with the average winning price for one US dollar settling at

December 2, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Ethiopia’s Central Bank Announces $50 Million FX Auction for December 2

Addis Ababa — December 1, 2025 The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) has announced that it will conduct its eleventh foreign exchange auction of the year on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, offering $50 million to participating commercial banks. The auction is part of the central bank’s renewed commitment to running a predictable, bi-weekly FX auction

December 1, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Entertainment & Arts

Robel Mideksa’s Road to Keber-Af: The Young Voice Reviving Ethiopia’s Sonic Memory

Robel Mideksa didn’t stumble into music — he grew up inside it. Long before his name started circulating in Ethiopia’s rising-star circles, he was the kid in the Lutheran Mission Primary School choir whose voice stopped adults in their tracks. One of them was Mr. Bizuayehu, a veteran teacher known for spotting talent early and

December 1, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

M-PESA Lehulum Debuts: Mobile Money Now Works Across All Networks

Addis Ababa — M-PESA Ethiopia has launched M-PESA Lehulum, a new platform that enables mobile money services to operate across all telecommunications networks in the country. The rollout marks a significant step toward broader interoperability in Ethiopia’s financial technology sector, allowing customers to use M-PESA without switching SIM cards or mobile operators. A Shift Toward

December 1, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Entertainment & Arts

Adonai Shines as 2025 TikTok Creative Awards Celebrate Ethiopia’s New Digital Creators

The 2025 TikTok Creative Awards concluded with a powerful message this year: Ethiopian creators are shaping culture, influencing public conversations, and redefining digital storytelling on their own terms. Far from the traditional startup ecosystems or donor-driven creative spaces, TikTok continues to reward raw talent, originality, and an unapologetically Ethiopian sense of humor and hustle. The

November 30, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Amhara Bank Reports Strong Growth as Pre-Tax Profit Surges to 654.8 Million Birr

Addis Ababa — Amhara Bank has posted a pre-tax profit of 654.8 million birr for the 2017 fiscal year, marking one of its strongest financial performances since its establishment and registering an 85% jump compared to the previous year.The announcement was made during the Bank’s fourth annual general meeting, which convened today in Addis Ababa.

November 29, 2025 • By Addis Insight