🇪🇹EthiopiaEast Africa
Ethio telecom concludes talks with British International Investment on digital strategy and infrastructure
via The Reporter Ethiopia5 min read
Ethio telecom has announced the successful conclusion of talks with British International Investment BII, the UK government’s development finance institution. The discussions involved Ethio telecom CEO Frehiwot Tamiru and BII Managing Director Christopher Chijiutomi, focusing on sustainable infrastructure and the state-owned operator’s role in the digital economy. Key areas of discussion included the Telebirr mobile money platform, data centers, cloud services, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Frehiwot expressed Ethio telecom’s interest in partnerships to advance its “Next Horizon” digital strategy. Both leadership teams emphasized mobilizing impact investment to accelerate the strategy's implementation, with a focus on the digital economy, inclusive fintech ecosystems, and climate-resilient digital infrastructure. Ethio telecom reported 85 billion Birr in revenue during the first half of the fiscal year, with Telebirr contributing 4.1 billion Birr and facilitating nearly two trillion Birr in transactions.
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Ethiopia's Ministry of Finance announced the restoration of daily diesel supply to nine million liters, following a two-month period of reduced volume due to supply disruptions caused by the US-Israeli war in Iran. Fuel trucks have begun transporting diesel from Djibouti to Addis Ababa, with more expected to reach regional towns and cities. This development is anticipated to alleviate the challenges faced by truck and public transport drivers who have experienced long queues at pumping stations. The diesel crisis had previously impacted food and commodity prices, particularly fresh produce, and led to a nearly 17 percent increase in diesel retail prices to 163.09 Bir per liter. Reports also indicated a rise in illicit fuel trade during the disruption. Talks between the US and Iran have stalled after eight weeks of fighting, raising concerns about shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Dashen Breweries SC has announced the appointment of Matiyas Getachew as its new Chief Executive Officer. This appointment marks a significant transition as Matiyas becomes the first Ethiopian executive to lead a major brewery in a sector traditionally headed by expatriates. Matiyas joined Dashen in 2020 as Chief Financial Officer and was named acting CEO last year after the departure of Mario Van Geldern. The company elevated him to permanent CEO due to his strong leadership and achievements as CFO during challenging macroeconomic conditions. Matiyas holds a bachelor’s degree from Addis Ababa University’s Commercial College, is a chartered certified accountant, and has a master’s degree from Heriot-Watt University. His international background includes leadership roles at SABMiller, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, and Diageo. Industry observers note this appointment reflects a broader trend toward local leadership in multinational corporations, with other major players like Coca-Cola and Unilever also recently appointing local CEOs. An industry analyst stated that Matiyas’s appointment shows growing confidence in Ethiopia’s ability to empower homegrown executives to lead large consumer businesses. Dashen Breweries was founded in 2000 by Tiret Corporate, with Duet Group, a UK investment firm, holding a majority stake since 2012.
Must ReadDespite being educated, networked, and aware of grievances, Tigrayan youth and pro-reform elites have struggled to achieve a non-violent transition away from the dominance of TPLF hardliners. This failure is attributed to historical legacies, coercive control, elite fragmentation, war fatigue, external interventions, and survival calculations. The article outlines five interacting factors: historical contingency shaping political identity, the coercive capture of security institutions by hardliners, elite fragmentation co-opting youth energy, war fatigue leading to a preference for stability, and external actors reshaping opportunity structures. A roadmap for non-violent transformation proposes four measures: a verifiable security deconcentration process, inclusive political engineering beyond personality politics, economic stabilization and civic reintegration, and a strategic civic coalition and communication plan. Potential positive scenarios include a managed stalemate evolving into gradual political opening, or a tipping point from successful decentralization of coercive structures. Conversely, negative scenarios include hardliner consolidation, intra-Tigrayan civil war, radicalization of disempowered youth, regional destabilization, and permanent political fragmentation. The article concludes that rekindling confidence among Tigrayan youth and elites requires verifiable, staged changes that reduce existential risks, supported by impartial external facilitation, calibrat
Must ReadWest Asia is at a critical juncture, characterized by unprecedented military exchanges and the erosion of established red lines, demanding bold strategic realignments to prevent further escalation. This period represents a "make-or-break" moment where outcomes are binary: success or failure. The region's foundations are asymmetrically distributed, with Iran's Axis of Resistance having built layered deterrence through proxies and missile arsenals, now tested by targeted assassinations and degraded air defenses. Israel, despite its strong tactical foundations in intelligence and air power, faces strategic overstretch and diplomatic isolation due to a multi-front war. The collapse of Assad's foundation in Syria in December 2024 highlighted the precariousness of apparent strength. Both sides are grappling with novel pressures, such as drone and UAV warfare, which introduce cost asymmetry, favoring Iran in a protracted conflict. The article suggests that if Iran cannot be stopped from going nuclear, Israel could face a nuclear Iran within 12-18 months. The current situation leaves no room for error, with the only options being a controlled halt or catastrophic collapse. While both Iran and Israel have shown resilience, the cost asymmetry of modern hybrid warfare and the unwillingness of either side to back down on their terms point towards the necessity of diplomatic channels. A controlled cessation would require mutually acknowledged thresholds, with Iran seeking sanction relief