Addis Ababa, July 28, 2026 (ENA) — Ethiopia’s flagship Bounty of Basket (Yelemat Tirufat) initiative has significantly strengthened household food security and boosted production across key agricultural value chains, according to Ethiopia’s Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Mekuria Getachew. In an exclusive interview with top243news.com, Ambassador Mekuria said the initiative, launched in November 2022 under the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, has delivered measurable results and demonstrates the effectiveness of homegrown African solutions in addressing food security challenges. Inspired by the traditional basket, a symbol of abundance and solidarity, the Bounty of Basket program has enhanced household agricultural production while contributing to Ethiopia’s broader food security objectives. "Bounty of Basket shows that we do not need to import answers to our problems. We can design solutions that reflect our soils, our communities, and our aspirations," Ambassador Mekuria said. The ambassador highlighted notable gains in agricultural output since the program's launch. National egg production increased from about 2.8 billion eggs in 2020 to more than 9.3 billion in 2025, while annual poultry meat production reached nearly 190,000 metric tons. He attributed the progress to modernization, innovation, and strong community participation, which have enabled households and smallholder farmers to become more productive. "When a family becomes a productive unit, the nation becomes food secure," he said. Beyond poultry production, the initiative has expanded beekeeping, aquaculture, and dairy farming, creating thousands of jobs, particularly for women and young people, while improving access to nutritious and diversified foods at the household level. "Nutrition is not an afterthought. It is the compass that guides development," Mekuria noted. The ambassador also called for closer agricultural cooperation between Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo through enhanced research partnerships, technology transfer, and investment. Against the backdrop of climate change, rapid population growth, and persistent food insecurity across Africa, he stressed that stronger bilateral collaboration is essential to replicate successful agricultural models and build resilient food systems. "Our shared challenge demands shared solutions. Partnership is the seed from which regional food sovereignty grows," he said. Ambassador Mekuria said Ethiopia's experience with the Yelemat Tirufat initiative illustrates how family centered agricultural development, supported by strong national policies, can accelerate food security and drive rural transformation. He added that the program represents not only a national achievement but also a practical model for broader African cooperation in advancing sustainable development and shared prosperity.

Addis Ababa, July 28, 2026 (ENA) — Ethiopia and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening economic and commercial cooperation as senior officials held talks focused on advancing investment, expanding bilateral trade, and strengthening private sector partnerships. Ethiopia's Minister of Finance, Ahmed Shide, met today with Mark Mitchell, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Africa at the U.S. Department of Commerce. The two sides discussed Ethiopia's ongoing economic reform agenda, emerging investment opportunities, and prospects for enhancing economic engagement between the two countries. During the meeting, Finance Minister Ahmed outlined the government's comprehensive macroeconomic and structural reform program. He further highlighted significant progress made in recent years as a result of the reform to foster a more competitive economy, improve the business climate, and create a stronger enabling environment for private sector-led growth and foreign direct investment. Ahmed reaffirmed the government's commitment to sustaining reforms that enhance economic competitiveness, expand market opportunities, and position Ethiopia as an attractive destination for international investors. On his part, Mark Mitchell, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Africa at the U.S. Department of Commerce commended the progress achieved under Ethiopia's reform program and welcomed the government's continued efforts to improve the investment climate. He reaffirmed the U.S. Department of Commerce's commitment to promoting stronger commercial relations and supporting increased engagement between American companies and the Ethiopian market. The two sides also exchanged views on expanding bilateral trade and investment, strengthening private sector co llaboration, and promoting greater business-to-business partnerships across key sectors.   Among the issues discussed was Ethiopia's landmark new international airport development project, with both sides exploring the interest of U.S. financing institutions in supporting the financing of the strategic infrastructure initiative. The officials emphasized that sustained dialogue and closer economic cooperation will be instrumental in unlocking new investment opportunities, facilitating private sector engagement, and fostering mutually beneficial economic growth. They also pledged to further strengthening Ethiopia–United States economic and commercial relations while pursuing practical measures to boost trade, attract investment, and expand long-term business cooperation.

Addis Ababa, July 27, 2026 (ENA) — The Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU) has unveiled a comprehensive 25-year national power distribution expansion and modernization master plan, slated for implementation through 2049. Speaking at the launch, EEU Chief Executive Officer Getu Geremu called the roadmap a landmark effort to modernize, digitize, and strengthen grid reliability. He emphasized that upgrading distribution infrastructure is a critical national agenda essential for driving Ethiopia’s long-term economic growth and social transformation. Under the plan, peak power demand is planned to soar to 39,327 megawatts by 2049, driven by rapid population growth, urban expansion, industrialization, and the rise of electric mobility. The country plans to construct 128 new power substations over the next quarter-century to meet this demand.

Addis Ababa, July 27, 2026 (ENA) — The Ministry of Revenue announced it collected 1.518 trillion Birr during the 2018 Ethiopian Fiscal Year, outperforming its revised annual target and setting a historic milestone for domestic revenue collection. The announcement was made during the opening of the annual performance review for the Ministry and the Ethiopian Customs Commission, where officials met to review past results and lay out plans for the 2019 fiscal year. Minister of Revenue, Aynalem Nigussie stated that ongoing macroeconomic reforms are delivering clear, measurable gains. The ministry originally set a revenue target of 1.28 trillion Birr. Following strong first-half results, officials adjusted the target upward to 1.5 trillion Birr. By the close of the fiscal year, actual collections reached 101.24 percent of that revised goal. Of the total revenue collected, domestic taxes accounted for the largest share at 774 billion Birr, while customs duties and taxes on foreign trade generated an additional 725.3 billion Birr. Compared to the previous fiscal year, total collection jumped by 618.39 billion Birr, an impressive 68.69 percent increase. Minister Aynalem attributed the growth to targeted policy reforms, a broader tax base, modernized tax administration, and digital service integration. She described the achievement as a new historic chapter that lays the foundation for Ethiopia's fiscal sovereignty. Efforts to curb illicit trade also yielded significant results. Enhanced institutional coordination and community involvement led to the seizure of contraband imports and exports valued at an estimated 28.9 billion Birr. Speaking at the event, Ethiopian Customs Commissioner Debele Kabeta also highlighted the transition of national revenue collection from the billion-Birr scale to the trillion-Birr mark as a watershed moment. He added that the momentum from 2018 provides a solid launching pad for achieving even higher targets in the 2019 fiscal year.

By Yordanos D. July 26, 2026 (ENA) For generations, Ethiopia watched its rivers flow northward while millions of its own citizens remained without reliable electricity, modern irrigation, or adequate access to clean water. From the Ethiopian highlands, the Abay, known downstream as the Blue Nile; together with the Tekeze and Baro-Akobo river systems, carries the overwhelming majority of the Abay’s waters. Yet the country from which these rivers originate remained one of Africa’s least electrified nations for decades. To many Ethiopians, this was more than an economic paradox. It was a historical injustice. The question was simple but profound: How could a country that contributes the largest share of the Abay (Nile)’s waters remain unable to use its own natural resources to light homes, power industries, irrigate farmland, and lift millions out of poverty? For Ethiopia, the answer lies in a combination of colonial-era arrangements, geopolitical pressure, financial constraints, domestic instability, and what successive Ethiopian governments, scholars, and policymakers have described as a longstanding system of hydro-hegemony in the Nile Basin.   At the center of that struggle stood Egypt, the principal downstream opponent of Ethiopia’s efforts to develop the Abbay River. For decades, Ethiopia has argued that Egypt sought to preserve a historical order in which downstream interests dominated decisions over the Abay, while upstream countries, particularly Ethiopia were expected to accept restrictions on their own development. The construction and completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), however, changed that equation. The dam did more than generate electricity. It challenged an old political and diplomatic order, forced a reconsideration of power relations in the Nile Basin, and demonstrated that a major African infrastructure project could be built through national determination and domestic resource mobilization despite intense geopolitical opposition. The Historical Roots of a Disputed Order The roots of the Abay dispute reach deep into the colonial era. Among the agreements most frequently cited in Ethiopia’s objections is the 1929 Anglo-Egyptian Nile Waters Agreement. Negotiated by Great Britain on behalf of its East African colonies and Egypt, the agreement did not include Ethiopia—even though the Ethiopian highlands are the source of the majority of the waters flowing into the Nile system. The arrangement granted Egypt significant influence over upstream water development and reinforced a system that Ethiopian scholars and policymakers argue was created without the participation or consent of the principal upstream country. Three decades later, Egypt and Sudan signed the 1959 Nile Waters Agreement. The treaty allocated 55.5 billion cubic meters of the Nile’s annual flow to Egypt and 18.5 billion cubic meters to Sudan. No upstream Nile country was party to the agreement. For Ethiopia, this was a fundamental problem. A river system whose waters originate overwhelmingly in the territories of upstream states had effectively been divided through an agreement negotiated by two downstream countries. Ethiopia has consistently rejected the notion that such agreements can determine the rights of countries that were not parties to them. Ethiopian legal experts and policymakers argue that modern international water law is based on principles of equitable and reasonable utilization, cooperation, and the obligation to avoid significant harm—not on the permanent preservation of historical privilege. This disagreement lies at the heart of the Abay (Nile) dispute. For Ethiopia and other upstream countries, the question is not whether downstream states have legitimate water-security concerns. Rather, it is whether those concerns can be used to deny upstream countries the right to develop their own resources.   When Development Became a Geopolitical Question Throughout the second half of the twentieth century, Ethiopia explored a number of hydropower and water-development projects on the Abbay River. Many failed to materialize. Some were undermined by domestic political instability. Others faced financial and technical limitations. Ethiopia also lacked the infrastructure and institutional capacity required to implement projects of enormous scale. But the country’s development challenges were compounded, Ethiopian policymakers and analysts argue, by sustained diplomatic opposition to major upstream water projects. Whenever Ethiopia proposed large-scale development initiatives on the Abbay, the issue frequently became entangled in regional and international politics. Egypt consistently opposed projects that it believed could affect its downstream water interests. Ethiopian officials and scholars have argued that Cairo also sought to discourage international financial institutions, bilateral donors, and potential investors from supporting major Ethiopian projects on the river. Whether through direct diplomatic lobbying or the broader political sensitivity surrounding Nile infrastructure, the result was a development environment in which financing major projects became extraordinarily difficult. For Ethiopia, water development was therefore never merely a technical or economic matter. It became a question of sovereignty. Could a country be expected to remain poor because the rivers flowing through its territory eventually cross international borders? Could the historical use of a shared river by downstream states permanently prevent upstream countries from meeting the basic needs of their own populations? These questions increasingly shaped Ethiopia’s approach to the Abay River.   The GERD: A New Chapter in the Abay Basin The launch of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in 2011 marked a dramatic turning point. Instead of waiting for international financing or external approval, Ethiopia decided to build the project largely through its own resources. The decision was extraordinary. The government launched a nationwide fundraising campaign that mobilized citizens from all walks of life. Civil servants contributed portions of their salaries. Businesses purchased bonds. Farmers, students, religious institutions, and members of the Ethiopian diaspora contributed to the project. The dam became a national cause. For millions of Ethiopians, the GERD was no longer simply an infrastructure project. It became a symbol of self-reliance and national dignity—a declaration that Ethiopia would no longer allow financial constraints or external political pressure to determine whether its people could access electricity and development. The project also demonstrated the power of domestic resource mobilization in a country with limited access to conventional international financing for major infrastructure projects. The GERD was built through public contributions, bond sales, government resources, and the collective financial commitment of Ethiopians at home and abroad. The scale of the national campaign was unprecedented in modern Ethiopian history. As construction progressed, the dam increasingly came to represent a broader national aspiration: the right of a country to use its natural resources to fight poverty, expand electricity access, industrialize its economy, and create opportunities for its people. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has repeatedly described the project as a symbol of Ethiopia’s determination to shape its own future. “No force can stop Ethiopia from building a dam on the Abay,” he once said. On another occasion, he emphasized the wider significance of the project, declaring that the GERD had brought Ethiopia a wealth greater than its GDP and that “the era of begging for a handout has ended.” For Ethiopia, the message was clear: development could no longer be postponed indefinitely in the name of preserving an old regional order. A Dam at the Center of Egypt’s Unfounded Propaganda The GERD quickly became one of Africa’s most closely watched infrastructure projects. Egypt brought the dispute to regional and international forums, including the Arab League and the United Nations Security Council, arguing that the dam posed risks to its vital water security. Ethiopia, meanwhile, maintained that the GERD was fundamentally a non-consumptive hydropower project. It repeatedly says the dam does not permanently divert water from the Nile system. Water passes through turbines to generate electricity before continuing downstream. Ethiopian officials and water experts have also emphasized the dam’s potential regional benefits. The GERD is expected to regulate the seasonal flow of the Abay, reduce the severity of flooding downstream, trap sediment that can damage infrastructure, and generate large quantities of clean, renewable electricity. Ethiopia has also affirmed that regulated water releases could improve predictability in the downstream flow of the river. Ambassador Ibrahim Idris has underscored this position, explaining that water used to generate electricity flows back into the river system rather than being consumed. Water-resources expert Yilma Seleshi, PhD, has likewise pointed to the potential benefits of storing water in the cooler Ethiopian highlands, where evaporation losses may be lower than in hotter downstream environments. From Ethiopia’s perspective, the central issue is therefore not whether downstream countries have legitimate concerns, but how those concerns can be addressed without denying upstream countries their own right to development. The debate has revealed a deeper disagreement. Egypt has historically emphasized the protection of existing water uses and downstream security. Ethiopia has emphasized sovereign development rights, equitable and reasonable utilization, and the need for a more inclusive basin-wide framework. The dispute is therefore about more than the operation of a single dam. It is about who has the authority to shape the future of an entire river basin.   Breaking the Financing Barrier Perhaps the most significant achievement of the GERD was not only its engineering scale but the manner in which Ethiopia financed it. For decades, the country struggled to secure external financing for major projects on the Abbay River amid political opposition and regional sensitivities. The GERD changed the model. Ethiopia turned inward—not in isolation, but in search of national capacity. The project became one of the largest examples of domestic resource mobilization for strategic infrastructure in modern African history. The campaign crossed social and economic boundaries. A civil servant’s contribution, a farmer’s donation, a student’s support, a business investment, and a diaspora contribution all became part of the same national effort. The dam’s financing campaign transformed a complex infrastructure project into a shared national undertaking. That collective participation also gave the GERD a political significance that extended far beyond its power-generation capacity. It became a symbol of what Ethiopia could achieve when a strategic national project was backed by broad public participation. The dam represented a rejection of the idea that Africa’s major development projects must always depend on external financing, external approval, or external political acceptance. From Energy Deficit to Regional Powerhouse With an installed generation capacity of more than 5,000 megawatts, the GERD is set to become Africa’s largest hydroelectric power facility. Its significance for Ethiopia is immense. For decades, insufficient electricity constrained industrial growth, limited economic opportunities, and left millions of Ethiopians without reliable access to power. The GERD offers the potential to transform that reality. More electricity can support manufacturing, digital services, education, health care, agriculture, and the expansion of small and medium-sized businesses. It can also strengthen Ethiopia’s position as a regional energy supplier. Cross-border electricity trade has the potential to deepen economic integration across East Africa, connecting national economies through shared energy infrastructure. In this sense, the GERD is not only an Ethiopian project. Its long-term impact could extend across the region. A more interconnected East African electricity market could reduce energy shortages, improve reliability, support industrial development, and create new opportunities for regional cooperation.   The End of an Old Hydro-Political Order? The completion of the GERD has fundamentally altered the political landscape of the Abay (Nile) Basin. For decades, upstream countries faced enormous political and financial obstacles when attempting to develop the river’s resources. Ethiopia’s success demonstrated that the old order could be challenged. The country did not abandon diplomacy. It did not reject cooperation. But it refused to accept the idea that development could be permanently suspended because of historical arrangements that it never signed. The GERD therefore represents a profound shift in the Nile Basin. It has strengthened Ethiopia’s confidence in its ability to pursue large-scale development projects through national capacity. It has also encouraged a broader debate among upstream countries about the relationship between sovereignty, development, and transboundary water cooperation. The future of the Nile Basin will inevitably require compromise. Egypt’s water-security concerns cannot simply be dismissed. Nor can the development aspirations of Ethiopia and other upstream states be indefinitely subordinated to historical claims. The challenge is to build a framework in which both realities can coexist. That means cooperation based on contemporary international water law, transparent data sharing, coordinated dam operations, confidence-building measures, and a recognition that the Nile is not a zero-sum resource. The prosperity of one country does not necessarily require the poverty of another.   A New Chapter for Ethiopia and Abay River For Ethiopia, the GERD represents the culminate on of a struggle that lasted generations. It is the product of engineering, political commitment, national sacrifice, and unprecedented public mobilization. But its meaning extends beyond the dam itself. The project has challenged the idea that historical water arrangements can permanently determine the development prospects of countries that were excluded from their creation. It has demonstrated that a major African country can mobilize its own citizens to finance a transformative national project. It has expanded Ethiopia’s energy potential and created new possibilities for regional electricity trade. And, perhaps most importantly, it has changed the psychology of the Nile Basin. The GERD has shown that the upstream countries are no longer prepared to remain passive observers of decisions concerning the rivers that originate in their territories. For Ethiopia, the completion of the dam marks the end of one era and the beginning of another. The country that once watched its rivers flow downstream while millions remained in darkness is now using those waters to generate electricity, power industry, and support national development. Abay is still a shared river. Its future will depend on cooperation. But the political geography of the basin has changed. The era in which Ethiopia’s development could be constrained indefinitely by inherited arrangements, external pressure, or the absence of international financing is increasingly becoming a matter of history. The GERD stands as a monument to that transformation. For Ethiopia, it is a dam. For the Nile Basin, it is a geopolitical turning point. And for Africa, it is a powerful reminder that development, when backed by national determination and collective sacrifice, can eventually overcome even the most deeply entrenched barriers.

Addis Ababa, July 26, 2026 (ENA) —GERD has vividly demonstrated what Ethiopians can do through unity and the country needs to keep its momentum by taking crucial experiences from the historic success of the dam, Policy Innovation Research Center (PIRC) Executive Director, Solomon Zena, said. In an exclusive interview with ENA, the Executive Director noted that Ethiopia has been a great example in so many things, further highlighting the country’s continued exemplary role by realizing the grand dam.   The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is a major clean energy project that significantly boosts renewable hydropower indispensable for advancing regional economic integration. Solomon further said the dam is generating renewable energy that is also instrumental for bolstering the country’s climate actions and providing energy for the region. The Executive Director further elaborated on the significance of GERD for mitigating climate change by generating renewable energy. He also stressed the need for moving ahead to keep the momentum in developing the country’s water resources by taking the essential experiences from GERD. The nation needs to go and also build small dams as the successful completion of the GERD vividly manifests how Ethiopians make differences through unity. GERD is a historic milestone driven by public unity and government resolve which is also widely hailed as a historic milestone of national unity, self-reliance, and shared pride.   “It is a great initiative. It shows that when we come together, we can make a difference. We can build a dam like that, one of the largest in Africa.” The Executive Director emphasized the need to keep that momentum by expanding the efforts the country already made and also the big achievement shown with the Grand Renaissance Dam alongside some other programs implemented in different sectors of the economy. Ethiopia has to keep its momentum as long as the people and the government believe that it helps to bring development in Ethiopia without harming others, he underscored.   “We need to go ahead and do what we did with the Grand Renaissance Dam. I understand that we need more dams,” Solomon stated. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is widely regarded as indispensable for advancing regional economic integration while also standing as a powerful symbol of African self-reliance.

Addis Ababa, July 25, 2026 (ENA) —Former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, Tibor Nagy rebuffed Cairo and Asmara's repeated statements that only littoral states hold authority over Red Sea maritime security and governance. Ambassador Nagy argued that if as Egypt and Eritrea say only littoral states have anything to say about Red Sea, then logically only nations which put water into the Nile can determine its use. The US diplomat and Professor wrote: "So if as Egypt and Eritrea say only littoral states have anything to say about Red Sea, then logically only nations which put water into the Nile can determine its use".   The diplomat's remark addresses the stance of lower riparian downstream countries that seek to influence upstream water developments while simultaneously attempting to exclude non-coastal nations from Red Sea maritime security discussions. The commentary comes amid ongoing discussions regarding sovereign access to sea outlets in the Horn of Africa and the equitable utilization of transboundary water resources in the Nile Basin.

Addis Ababa, July 24, 2026 (ENA) —Ethiopia and the United States have stepped up efforts to strengthen commercial diplomacy and make the investment climate more conducive, as senior government officials and American business leaders held a high-level dialogue. The dialogue focused on removing barriers to investment and translating policy commitments into concrete business opportunities. The Public-Private Dialogue (PPD), held in Addis Ababa on July 23, brought together senior Ethiopian government officials, U.S. diplomats, American investors and representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ethiopia to discuss market access, regulatory challenges and the conditions needed to expand private-sector investment.   The forum was jointly convened by the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC), the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia and the Ethiopian-American Chamber of Commerce under the leadership of Ambassador Girma Birru, Chairperson of the Ethiopian Investment Board. U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Ervin J. Massinga co-chaired the dialogue with EIC Commissioner Dr. Zeleke Temesgen and Chief Macroeconomic Advisor to the Prime Minister Ambassador Girma Birru. The discussions centered on advancing commercial diplomacy, expanding market access and ensuring a more open, transparent and level playing field for U.S. companies operating in Ethiopia.   Speaking at the opening session, Commissioner Zeleke Temesgen said a conducive and predictable investment environment cannot be created through laws and regulatory frameworks alone. He stressed that sustained, transparent dialogue between policymakers and the private sector is essential to identifying investment barriers, developing practical solutions and building investor confidence. “Transparent dialogue and consultation between policymakers and investors are essential to building a favorable investment climate,” the Commissioner said. Zeleke noted that the Ethiopian Investment Commission has, over the past two years, worked closely with investment associations representing various countries and other stakeholders through Public-Private Dialogue platforms.   These platforms, he said, are playing a vital role in fostering a more transparent, predictable and conducive investment environment by providing investors with a direct channel to engage policymakers and relevant government institutions. The Commissioner also recognized the contribution of U.S. companies to Ethiopia's economy through capital investment, job creation, technology transfer and the expansion of foreign trade, while calling on more American companies to explore investment opportunities in the country. On his part, Ambassador Massinga reaffirmed the strategic importance of Ethiopia to the United States and stressed Washington's commitment to deepening economic ties between the two countries.   He welcomed the Ethiopian Government's ongoing economic and investment reforms, emphasizing that an open, transparent and predictable business environment is critical to attracting U.S. investment and supporting private-sector-led economic growth. The Ambassador further underscored the importance of ensuring that Public-Private Dialogue platforms produce tangible results rather than remaining limited to discussions. To advance that goal, he proposed that the Ethiopian Investment Commission and private-sector representatives develop a targeted action plan aimed at addressing key bottlenecks identified by businesses. The initiative is intended to strengthen commercial diplomacy by moving from dialogue to implementation and supporting the expansion of business operations, increased investment and broader economic opportunities for both Ethiopian and American businesses.   The concerns were addressed directly by senior representatives of the relevant Ethiopian government institutions. Ambassador Girma Birru, who chaired the dialogue, said such platforms play an important role in improving the investment environment and reaffirmed that similar forums would continue to be strengthened and held regularly. Senior officials from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration, the Ministry of Revenues, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, the Ethiopian Customs Commission and the Immigration and Citizenship Service participated in the discussions.   More than 50 members of the American Chamber of Commerce, along with representatives of development partner organizations, also attended the forum, according to the Ethiopian Investment Commission. The dialogue reflects growing efforts by Ethiopia and the United States to deepen economic engagement by linking high-level diplomatic commitments with direct engagement between government institutions and the business community.

Addis Ababa, July 24, 2026 (ENA) — The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which is a very good impetus for economic growth, demonstrates a great example of Ethiopia’s effective domestic policy, American-based Economics Professors noted. In an exclusive interview with ENA, Gettysburg College Economics Professor, Linus Nyiwul, said the dam is a very good example of a good domestic policy. Stating that infrastructure is a very crucial resource for achieving growth, he stated that the Great Renaissance Dam is a massive project that would provide electricity at highest levels that benefit Ethiopia and catalyze growth.   Therefore, it is a very good impetus for economic growth that would then provide the resources which can be redirected into not just climate change policy but other areas of growth, Professor Nyiwul elaborated. “Infrastructure is going to be extremely important going forward, not just for improving people's lives but also preparing for potential negative effects of climate change.”   The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has been described by many as a prime example of committed domestic resource mobilization which stands as a powerful symbol of national self-reliance, unity, and shared sacrifice. The American economist, however, added that mobilizing resources does not always have to be on the government's shoulders as the private sector could play a significant role in this respect. Similarly, University of California, Berkeley Professor, Edward Miguel, said the Grand Renaissance Dam is crucial for industrial development and to improve people's lives.   The dam is a very important investment which is critical for future economic growth, and Ethiopia has been willing to make those big investments, he noted. Speaking about Ethiopia’s commitment in advancing renewable and clean energy, Professor Miguel said hydropower is imperative in generating renewable and clean energy alongside solar and wind which is part of the country’s ongoing endeavors. “I think the world has reached a new phase, and renewable energy has to be in the center of energy policy now.” He commended Ethiopia’s impressive economic transformation driven through its comprehensive economic reforms in major sectors in recent years.   Ethiopia integrates its rapid economic transformation links closely to its green goals, generating over 95 percent of its electricity from clean, renewable sources like hydropower, wind, solar and geothermal.

Addis Ababa, July 24, 2026 (ENA) — Addis Ababa Mayor Adanech Abiebie today launched the construction of Ethiopia’s first Smart Polytechnic College; a landmark technical and vocational education project being developed in partnership with the Menschen für Menschen Foundation. Once completed, the college will provide technology-driven, hands-on vocational training for young people in key sectors, including manufacturing, automotive engineering, electrical and electronics, communications, textiles, and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) technology, the mayor said. In a message shared on her social media page, Mayor Adanech stressed that sustainable national development and poverty reduction cannot be achieved through theoretical education alone, underscoring the need for a skilled workforce equipped with both technical expertise and innovative thinking. She said the Smart Polytechnic College will serve as a critical bridge between education and employment by enabling young people to translate knowledge into practical skills, transition from job seekers to job creators, and contribute to expanding employment opportunities. The mayor further stated that the Addis Ababa City Administration will closely monitor the construction process to ensure the project is completed on schedule and meets the required quality standards. She also expressed her appreciation to the Menschen für Menschen Foundation, a longstanding development partner, for its support in co-financing the project.

Addis Ababa, July 23, 2026 (ENA) —Addressing Africa's challenges require policymakers to make informed choices on where to invest limited resources and which programs deliver effective results based on evidence, Planning and Development Minister Fitsum Assefa noted today. Speaking at the opening of the 14th Africa Evidence Summit that opened in Addis Ababa, the Minster said that "we cannot answer these questions on gut feeling alone. We need real data, honest analysis, and strong collaboration between leaders, researchers, and communities". She highlighted that Ethiopia is strengthening its evidence ecosystem through coordinated efforts among key institutions. According to her, the ministry provides policy guidance, prepares short, medium, and long-term development plans, manages public investments, and supports climate policy, while the National Statistical Office generates official data and the Policy Studies Institute (PSI) transforms data into evidence to support policymaking.   The Minister said the eight-pillar Statistical Development Program is modernizing Ethiopia's statistical system by moving toward digital data management. She noted that the strengthened system has supported major data-generation initiatives, including Ethiopia's first agricultural census in 23 years, the first-ever Economic Establishment Census, a comprehensive Demographic and Health Survey, and an Integrated Household Welfare Survey. Fitsum further called for stronger collaboration among governments, universities, think tanks, civil society organizations, and private sector actors to ensure research findings contribute directly to policy decisions and practical implementation. "There is no better time than now for researchers here and across the world, and of course our own Policy Studies Institute, to inform policy with quality and credible evidence," the Minister stressed. For his part, Network of Impact Evaluators in Africa Chairman, Amos Njuguna, stressed that emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics, should be deployed ethically and inclusively to improve people’s lives.   “Our mission goes beyond producing research to ensuring that evidence reaches the desks of decision-makers, informs public policy, and ultimately improves the lives of our people,” he noted. At the summit, Ethiopian Policy Studies Institute (PSI) Director- General, Fekadu Tsega, emphasized the importance of strengthening links between researchers and policymakers to ensure evidence contributes to practical development solutions. The Director-General said the institute works to bridge the gap between research and policymaking through multidisciplinary studies, policy engagement, and capacity building aimed at supporting national development priorities. "Research should not remain confined to academic institutions or journals, but must actively engage with policy processes and contribute to real-world solutions," he said, underscoring the importance of collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and practitioners. He added that researchers provide analytical methods, scientific evidence, and new perspectives, while policymakers contribute practical knowledge, institutional experience, and understanding of implementation challenges.   The 14th Africa Evidence Summit, held under the theme "Powering Policy with Innovative, Inclusive, and Transparent Data," has brought together more than 400 policymakers, researchers, innovators, and development partners to discuss how evidence and technology can strengthen decision-making across Africa.

Addis Ababa, July 23, 2026 (ENA) — Encouraging results have been recorded in the activities carried out to sustainably improve product supply and expand market infrastructure in the 2018 Ethiopia Fiscal Year, Prosperity Party Executive Member and Minister of Trade and Regional Integration, Kassahun Gofe, said. His statement followed the conclusion of a high-level party forum reviewing performance of the 2018 fiscal year and setting strategic priorities for 2019. Presenting a comprehensive performance report at the forum, Kassahun detailed key interventions deployed over the past year to curb inflation, stabilize consumer markets, and map out upcoming economic priorities. Robust measures taken throughout the 2018 fiscal year to strengthen supply chain resilience and expand market infrastructure have yielded encouraging results, he said. The Minister further emphasized that the government has pursued a multi-pronged strategy encompassing the Yelemat Tirufat (Bounty of the Basket) initiative that enhanced market linkages, expanded commercial infrastructure, and targeted crackdowns on illicit trade practices. To maintain basic commodity flows through liberalized market channels, the government supported private importers by approving over 568.8 million USD in foreign exchange through commercial banks. This allocation facilitated the market supply of 7.35 million quintals of sugar and over 704 million liters of edible oil. Regarding fuel distribution, 5.23 million cubic meters of petroleum products were delivered to the domestic market, achieving 91 percent of the planned annual target. The Minister highlighted that the opening of 804 new weekend open-air markets successfully linked producers directly with consumers, bringing the total number of active weekend markets nationwide to 2,369. According to him, this expansion enabled citizens to purchase essential goods at discounts ranging from 10 to 20 percent compared to standard retail rates. In addition, 32 modern commercial centers were brought into service, while 750 million Birr was allocated to expand livestock trading infrastructure. Parallel to economic measures, extensive social welfare programs totaling 190.56 billion Birr were executed across all regions and city administrations during the fiscal year. Key humanitarian highlights included the construction and renovation of 209,262 homes for vulnerable citizens at a cost of 66.4 billion Birr, direct meal support reaching 4.33 million households valued at 12.2 billion Birr, the provision of learning materials to 12 million students worth 14.4 billion Birr, and school feeding programs benefiting millions of school children nationwide totaling 28.3 billion Birr. Addressing logistical bottlenecks, regional reports confirmed the removal of 316 illegal transit checkpoints that previously hindered the free movement of agricultural goods, though localized challenges remain under active monitoring. Law enforcement operations against commercial distortions resulted in legal actions against 347,679 non-compliant traders, yielding 781.3 million Birr in fines. Furthermore, 14,221 individuals received custodial sentences, and 6,885 business licenses were revoked. In fuel distribution specifically, enforcement measures were taken against 115 gas stations, 84 commercial and security personnel, and 604 illicit actors. Macroeconomic indicators show overall headline inflation standing at 13.4 percent, with food inflation at 15.0 percent and non-food inflation slowing to 11.1 percent as a result of a tight monetary policy stance. Key cost drivers behind price pressure included a 49 percent increase in diesel costs and a 26 percent adjustment in exchange rates. Looking ahead to this fiscal year, Kassahun said the Ministry will focus on driving a 10 percent expansion in basic product supply, upgrading 500 local markets, increasing the number of weekend open-air markets to 3,369, eliminating lingering trade barriers, and conducting regulatory training for 20 million market participants to maintain market integrity. The review session brought together senior government officials, including Prosperity Party Vice President and Main Office Head, Adem Farah, alongside cabinet ministers, state ministers, and regional leaders.

Addis Ababa, July 23, 2026 (ENA) — The African Development Fund has approved a 9.3-million USD grant to strengthen climate resilience, improve water security and boost food production in vulnerable communities in Ethiopia and South Sudan. The Board of Directors of the Fund approved the grant with the view to strengthening climate resilience, improving water security and boosting food production in vulnerable communities in the countries, according to the African Development Bank Group. The project will construct and/or rehabilitate seven solar powered water supply systems and introduce integrated flood management measures that will provide reliable access to safe drinking water for nearly 80,000 people, it added. The Fund will also support the provision of climate smart agriculture training for more than 100,000 farmers, helping them improve food production while adapting to increasingly unpredictable weather. About 19,300 youth will receive training in agricultural skills, entrepreneurship and development of climate resilient value chains, it was learned. Communities will benefit from new sanitation facilities in schools and public institutions, improved hygiene services and women-led local water management committees. Farmers – most of them women – will gain access to improved seeds, agricultural extension services, demonstration farms and climate resilient technologies that increase productivity while protecting natural resources. The project will also restore degraded land through large scale tree planting and watershed rehabilitation and the strengthening of ecosystems. The multinational Climate Proof Water4Food project promotes shared technical standards, cross border learning and coordinated approaches, thereby advancing regional cooperation to manage climate risks that affect communities in both countries.

Addis Ababa, July 23, 2026 (ENA) — Ethiopia’s rapidly growing economy and expanding young population can create immense opportunities for deeper economic cooperation with the Gulf, Max Mendez-Parra, a Principal Research Fellow at the ODI Global think tank Group, said. According to the Principal Researcher, the Gulf is becoming an increasingly important partner for Africa and for Ethiopia in particular. Ethiopia’s relationship has significant potential to support economic transformation by shifting trade with Gulf countries toward sectors that strengthen the country’s growth, including agriculture, manufacturing, mining, and critical minerals, he added. Mendez-Parra stated that the Gulf could also contribute capital and sector expertise that would help Ethiopia expand and strengthen industries essential to long-term development. He described Ethiopia as a potential pilot for broader cooperation, noting that the country is widely viewed as an emerging economic hub in Africa. The Principal Researcher said Ethiopia’s progress over the past two decades is not a short-term trend but part of a long-term trajectory. He emphasized that Gulf investors would find value in Ethiopia’s expanding economy while the country’s increasing young population could provide both labor and innovation at a time when many other regions face demographic challenges. Ethiopia on the other hand could leverage its youthful workforce and human capital to accelerate sectors such as manufacturing and commercial agriculture, and potentially develop new pathways in areas like digital innovation. “Ethiopia is one of the countries with growing economies globally over the last 20 years… For the Gulf investors, you are bringing to them basically the certainty of a growing economy, and this is something critical. Second is an increasing young population in a moment where basically the rest of the world is facing significant demographic challenges.” Mendez-Parra noted that Gulf-Africa engagement is an alternative to traditional external partnerships that have often relied heavily on debt-based financing. According to him, Gulf involvement is more likely to be driven by equity ownership, changing both the terms and structure of investment relationships. The Principal Researcher underscored that the collaboration between the Gulf and Africa can bring investment, expertise, and expanded trading opportunities, supporting economic growth for both regions.

Addis Ababa, July 23, 2026 (ENA) —The African Union has strongly condemned attacks claimed by the Houthis against commercial oil tankers in the Red Sea. In a statement, Chairperson of the African Union Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf warned that the escalation poses a serious threat to regional peace, international maritime security and global economic stability. The Chairperson expressed the African Union’s full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia following the Houthi announcement of a naval blockade targeting the country. He reaffirmed the African Union’s unwavering support for Saudi Arabia’s security, sovereignty and stability. He further stressed that attacks against commercial vessels and attempts to obstruct the free movement of maritime traffic constitute a grave threat to international security. He underscored that freedom of navigation and the safety of commercial shipping must be fully respected in accordance with international law. He particularly condemned the grave escalation in the Red Sea, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors. The Chairperson warned that any disruption to commercial shipping in the Red Sea could have far-reaching consequences, threatening regional maritime connectivity, global supply chains and energy security. Youssouf also underscored that the disruption would undermine the economic interests of numerous African countries whose trade depends on safe and uninterrupted access to the vital sea lanes. “The security of maritime routes in the Red Sea is of vital strategic importance to Africa,” the statement emphasized. Chairperson Youssouf called on the Houthis to immediately cease all attacks against commercial shipping, refrain from actions that could further escalate tensions and fully respect international law governing maritime navigation. The African Union also reaffirmed its support for regional and international efforts aimed at de-escalating the conflict, safeguarding maritime security and advancing a peaceful, negotiated resolution. The AU stressed that preserving peace and stability in the Red Sea is essential not only for the region, but also for Africa and the wider international community.

Addis Ababa, July 23, 2026 (ENA) —Ethio Telecom generated 215.8 billion Birr in total revenue during the just-ended Ethiopian fiscal year, achieving 99.7 percent of its annual plan, the company announced. Presenting the company’s annual performance today, Ethio Telecom CEO Frehiwot Tamiru said the revenue represents a 33.2 percent increase compared with the previous fiscal year. During the fiscal year, Ethio Telecom constructed 603 new mobile base stations, bringing the total number of mobile sites nationwide to 10,613. The company also deployed 264 new 4G network sites, increasing the total number of 4G sites to 1,200 and raising national 4G network coverage to 82.2 percent. Ethio Telecom further expanded its 5G network by launching services in seven additional towns, bringing the total number of towns with 5G connectivity to 33. To meet rising demand for digital services, the company added 10.2 million in network capacity during the year, increasing its overall network capacity to 115 million.   The operator also expanded its distribution infrastructure by adding 1.4 million new copper and fiber network connections, while continuing to invest in sustainable energy. It installed 12.7 megawatts of additional green energy infrastructure, bringing its total renewable energy capacity to 39.7 megawatts. According to the CEO, 44 percent of the company’s 10,613 mobile sites are now equipped with backup generators, while 23,422 kilometers of network infrastructure are powered by solar energy, improving service reliability and reducing environmental impact. Ethio Telecom also expanded its enterprise digital infrastructure, serving 880 enterprise customers and increasing the capacity of its servers, cache systems and international gateways to 4.3 terabits per second. The development is expected to improve internet quality and support growing digital demand both nationally and across the continent. The company’s infrastructure investments, valued at 76 billion Birr, are expected to enhance service quality and support Ethiopia’s ambition to become a regional digital hub. Ethio Telecom’s total customer base reached 90.1 million, representing an 8.3 percent increase over the previous fiscal year and achieving 101.7 percent of its annual target. The company’s mobile money platform, telebirr, continued its rapid expansion, with the number of customers reaching 60.59 million. During the fiscal year alone, telebirr processed 4.19 trillion Birr in transactions, bringing the cumulative transaction value since its launch to 9.13 trillion Birr.   Frehiwot said telebirr currently records an average daily transaction value of 11 billion Birr, while its microfinance and digital credit services serve 21.64 million customers. Meanwhile, transactions conducted through Zemen Gebeya, Ethio Telecom’s digital marketplace, reached 340.3 million Birr during the fiscal year. The company also continued supporting Ethiopia’s Digital ID initiative by registering 32 million citizens for the national identification program. Of these, 7 million ID cards have already been printed and made available for collection through 502 pickup centers nationwide.        

By Getnet. S Menegesha July 23, 2026 (ENA) Egyptian politicians have repeated the same familiar refrain for years that Ethiopia is acting unilaterally over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and threatening the water security of downstream countries. The language has changed little. From official statements and diplomatic forums to state-aligned media campaigns, the accusation of “unilateralism” has been repeatedly deployed to portray Ethiopia as a threat to the Abay (Nile) Basin and to international peace and security. But as the GERD has moved from a construction project to an operational reality, a fundamental question has become increasingly difficult to avoid. Is Egypt’s opposition to the dam truly about hydro-technical risks—or is it about the political consequences of Ethiopia’s emergence as an independent and influential upstream power? For a growing number of international experts, the answer is increasingly clear. The dispute surrounding the GERD, they argue, has long been driven less by engineering realities than by political calculations, historical assumptions and a deep-seated reluctance to accept a new balance of power in the Nile Basin. The Abay, the source of the Blue Nile—originates in the Ethiopian highlands and contributes the overwhelming majority of the water flowing into the Nile system. Ethiopia contributes more than 86 percent of the water flowing through the Basin. Yet, for generations, Egypt’s political discourse has treated the river primarily through the lens of downstream control and inherited historical claims. The GERD has fundamentally challenged that model. Without consuming the river’s water or diverting its natural downstream flow, Ethiopia has built Africa’s largest hydroelectric dam, transforming the political and strategic realities of the Abay Basin. The project has demonstrated that an upstream country can pursue development, energy generation and economic transformation while remaining part of a shared river system. For Professor Al Mariam, a renowned political analyst and attorney at law, Egypt’s repeated accusations of Ethiopian “unilateralism” represent the continuation of an old political narrative.   Egypt, he argues, has repeatedly used the term not only in international media but also before the United Nations Security Council, seeking to portray Ethiopia’s development project as a violation of international norms. Yet the persistent repetition of the accusation, he suggests, reflects less a new legal reality than a lingering nostalgia for an era in which Egypt enjoyed disproportionate influence over the Abay. The GERD has disrupted that old order. Under international law, unilateralism generally refers to a state acting independently to pursue its interests or assert legal rights without meaningful cooperation, consultation or regard for the rights of other states. But Ethiopia has consistently maintained that the GERD is designed for electricity generation, not the permanent consumption or diversion of Abay (Nile) waters. That distinction is central to the technical debate. And according to energy expert Mikael Alemu, the Egyptians argument that the GERD will fundamentally reduce the flow of water to downstream countries does not withstand scientific scrutiny. “The Grand Renaissance Dam doesn’t have engineering problems. Its claim sounds much more like political,” Mikael told the Ethiopian News Agency.   The expert argued that the repeated claim that the GERD will significantly reduce the flow of the Abay to Egypt is not technically rational. After more than a decade of negotiations among Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan, the three countries have still failed to reach a comprehensive agreement. Yet, Mikael said, the continuing impasse is not primarily the result of an unresolved engineering problem. Rather, it reflects the absence of a genuine political willingness. The negotiations have not failed because a workable agreement was beyond reach; they have failed because Egyptian negotiators have repeatedly lacked the political commitment to engage in good faith, compromise where necessary, and pursue a mutually acceptable outcome. “I think the Grand Renaissance Dam doesn’t have engineering problems. Its claim sounds much more like political,” he said. Mikael argued that the GERD is a complex and enormously expensive hydro-technical project, constructed at a cost of approximately 5 billion U.S. dollars, whose principal purpose is to generate electricity and support regional development. The project, he noted, can also help regulate river flows and reduce the destructive impact of flooding, while providing major economic and energy benefits to Ethiopia and potentially to the wider region. The idea that the GERD represents an unprecedented threat, he added, is also difficult to sustain. Around the world, countries sharing transboundary rivers have developed dams, hydropower facilities and other infrastructure while negotiating mechanisms for cooperation and equitable utilization. Experiences from Southeast Asia, South America and the former Soviet Union demonstrate that shared rivers do not have to become permanent sources of geopolitical confrontation. International law, he noted, recognizes the right of states to make reasonable and equitable use of shared water resources, provided they do not cause significant harm to other countries. Ethiopia’s position, Mikael argued, is therefore fundamentally consistent with a development model based on the reasonable use of its own natural resources. He also questioned the logic behind Egypt’s continued insistence that Ethiopia must accept restrictions on its development. “It’s a very conveniently hot issue for Egyptians,” he said, arguing that domestic political conditions can encourage governments to maintain an external adversary. “Frequently, the political situation of Egypt seeks an outside enemy. It’s very nice to have an outside enemy when your politics is troubled,” Mikael said. For him, the argument that Ethiopia would deliberately seek to deprive Egypt of water is fundamentally irrational. Ethiopia, he stressed, is not seeking to stop the Abay (Nile) from flowing to Egypt. It is seeking to develop its own economy, generate electricity and improve the lives of millions of people who have long lacked reliable access to energy. The GERD, in this sense, is not a project designed against Egypt. It is a project designed for Ethiopia’s development. A Political Crisis Disguised as a Water Dispute Professor Ashok Swain, Professor of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University and UNESCO Chair on International Water Cooperation, has described the conduct of some Egyptian politicians over the GERD as a “losing game.”   According to Swain, Egypt has increasingly accepted the reality that the dam exists and will remain a permanent feature of the Nile Basin. The continued rhetoric, he argues, is largely intended for domestic consumption. Egyptian political and military leaders have securitized the Abay for decades, presenting the river not simply as a shared international water system but as an existential national security issue. That political framing makes aggressive rhetoric almost inevitable, even when the underlying technical realities do not support it. Swain argued that bringing the GERD issue repeatedly before the UN Security Council is unlikely to change the fundamental trajectory of the dispute. The Security Council is deeply divided, he noted, while China has consistently maintained a position supportive of the rights of upstream countries to utilize transboundary water resources. China itself is an upstream country for many major Asian rivers and has therefore maintained a longstanding policy against external intervention designed to prevent upstream states from developing their water resources. For this reason, Swain said, attempts to internationalize the GERD dispute through the Security Council are unlikely to produce the outcome Egypt seeks. More importantly, he argued, such efforts cannot reverse the central reality: Ethiopia has built the dam. The GERD is no longer a proposal, a blueprint or a diplomatic bargaining chip. It is a physical reality. And that reality has changed the balance of power in the Nile Basin. According to Swain, Ethiopia’s achievement represents more than an engineering milestone. It is also a diplomatic and geopolitical victory for a country that has historically faced enormous pressure whenever it attempted to develop its own water resources. “Ethiopia’s diplomatic and regional standing is on the rise, while Egypt’s influence has waned,” he said. The argument is not that Egypt has become irrelevant. Rather, it is that the old model in which Egypt could define the limits of upstream development is no longer sustainable. The GERD has made that clear. The Red Sea and the Nile: Two Fronts of the Same Strategic Anxiety? Swain also criticized Egypt’s opposition to Ethiopia’s efforts to secure reliable access to the sea.   Since Eritrea’s independence in the early 1990s, Ethiopia has been landlocked, despite being one of Africa’s largest countries by population and one of the continent’s most significant economies. As Ethiopia’s population, economy and industrial ambitions continue to grow, access to maritime trade routes has become an increasingly important strategic and economic issue. Swain argues that Egypt should recognize this reality rather than attempt to obstruct Ethiopia’s search for cooperative maritime arrangements. He described Egypt’s efforts to prevent Ethiopia from gaining access to the sea as another example of a losing strategy. “Egypt should have been focusing on building a cooperative arrangement over the Nile water and working in cooperation,” he said. The logic is straightforward: Ethiopia’s development cannot be permanently halted by diplomatic pressure, political campaigns or threats. Nor can geography be wished away. A growing Ethiopia will require energy, trade routes and access to international markets. The question is not whether Ethiopia will pursue development, but whether its neighbors will choose cooperation or confrontation. The End of the “Historical Rights” Narrative? American political-economic analyst Lawrence Freeman has also argued that Egypt’s objections to the GERD lack a reasonable technical foundation. Speaking previously to ENA, Freeman said the filling of the dam has not produced the kind of permanent reduction in Nile water flows that Egyptian officials have repeatedly warned about. In his view, the real discussion should no longer revolve around threats, ultimatums and historical claims. It should focus on how the countries of the Nile Basin can use their shared water resources to promote development. “They should sit down and get that discussion, rather than being involved in these antagonistic ultimatums and getting stuck in the old mode of historical rights,” Freeman said.   “Let’s think about how the 10 nations in the Nile Basin can be developed together.” For Freeman, the central question is not who possesses the river, but how the countries of the basin can develop infrastructure, generate electricity and improve living standards for their populations. He also challenged the idea that Egypt possesses an unquestionable historical right to control the Nile. The Nile’s waters, he noted, originate substantially in the Ethiopian highlands, while Ethiopia was not a party to the colonial-era agreements that Egypt frequently invokes. Those agreements, therefore, cannot reasonably be used to permanently prevent Ethiopia from developing its own natural resources. “There are probably sections of the Egyptian leadership who want to make sure that Ethiopia does not fully reach its potential because it will, in their view—which is a wrong view—diminish their political influence,” Freeman said. That, he argued, is the fundamental political problem behind the dispute. For generations, Ethiopia’s development of the Abay has faced attempts to restrict, delay or delegitimize its ambitions. The GERD represents the most significant break with that history. A Choice Between Cooperation and Confrontation The most important fact about the GERD is now impossible to ignore: the dam has been built. The political campaign against it may continue. Egyptian officials may continue to invoke “unilateralism.” State-aligned media may continue to repeat warnings about water security. Political actors may continue to seek international pressure. But none of that changes the physical reality of the dam. The question confronting Egypt is therefore no longer whether Ethiopia will build the GERD.   It is how Egypt will respond to a new reality in the Nile Basin. It can continue to rely on the politics of fear, historical claims, diplomatic pressure and external confrontation. Or it can recognize that the old order has changed. A cooperative approach would allow the three countries to develop mechanisms for predictability, data sharing and coordination without attempting to impose permanent restrictions on Ethiopia’s development. It would also open the door to broader cooperation in energy, trade, infrastructure and regional economic integration. The GERD could become a source of permanent confrontation. Or it could become the foundation for a new era of cooperation. The choice increasingly lies not with Ethiopia, which has already completed its historic project, but with those who continue to resist the reality it represents. The dam has demonstrated that Ethiopia can develop. It has demonstrated that an upstream African country can pursue large-scale infrastructure without surrendering its sovereignty. And it has demonstrated that the old assumption—that Ethiopia must remain underdeveloped in order to preserve the privileges of downstream powers—can no longer survive. That is why the continuing Egyptian campaign against the GERD increasingly appears less like a battle over hydro-technical engineering and more like a struggle against a changing regional order. And in that struggle, experts increasingly warn, Egypt’s continued reliance on confrontation may amount to nothing more than a losing game.

Addis Ababa, July 22, 2026 (ENA) —Africa must unlock its vast and largely untapped livestock potential to strengthen food and nutrition security and accelerate inclusive economic growth, experts told ENA. For millions of Africans, livestock is more than a source of food or income. It is the foundation of livelihoods, particularly for pastoral communities. Yet experts say the sector remains far below its potential and could become a powerful engine of economic transformation if supported by stronger investment, market access, infrastructure, and policy coordination. With large areas of the continent unsuitable for crop production but highly conducive to livestock rearing, expanding the sector could help Africa strengthen its food systems while creating new opportunities for trade and economic development. Andrew Edewa, TradeMark Africa Director of Standards, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and Food Systems, said livestock already sustains millions of pastoral communities and could be transformed from a traditional livelihood activity into a major driver of economic development. “As livelihoods of many pastoral communities depend on livestock, we can turn this from a livelihood activity into an engine of economic development through stronger market linkages. That creates jobs and income for different actors across the economy,” he said. Edewa said expanding livestock trade within Africa and with international markets could increase export earnings, generate new income, and stimulate broader economic growth across the continent. “Africa has the opportunity to increase the volume of livestock trade. This growth in trade can generate additional income for countries and contribute to the overall growth of the economy. This is where the future of Africa should be,” he said. For him, the sector’s importance extends beyond economic growth. Livestock also plays a critical role in addressing Africa’s nutrition challenges, particularly among children and other vulnerable groups. Milk, meat, and other animal-source foods provide affordable, high-quality protein and essential nutrients needed for healthy growth and development. “It is not only about food security, but also about nutrition. Livestock products provide affordable sources of protein that are essential for healthy growth and development,” Edewa said. Despite its enormous potential, many observers said Africa’s livestock sector continues to face structural challenges, including fragmented production systems, weak coordination among stakeholders, inadequate market connectivity, and limited investment in infrastructure and quality systems. Edewa said TradeMark Africa is working with stakeholders to connect livestock producers with domestic, regional, and international markets while strengthening policy frameworks and quality standards. “We work with all stakeholders to increase investment in the livestock sector, improve market systems, and strengthen government policies that ensure the safety and quality of livestock products,” he said. He added that investment in quality infrastructure and market-oriented value-chain development is essential to making African livestock products more competitive. “We would like to invest heavily in quality infrastructure that boosts the quality of livestock products entering the market. We are also focusing on value-chain development with a market orientation so producers can access both domestic and international markets,” Edewa said. Commenting on Ethiopia’s Bounty of the Basket (Ye Lemat Tirufat) initiative, Edewa commended the program for promoting value-chain development across the livestock sector. The initiative, he said, is creating opportunities across a broad range of activities, including live-animal trade, dairy production, meat processing, animal-feed manufacturing, and other livestock-based industries. Senbeto Funte, Regional Livestock Program Deputy Director at Mercy Corps for Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia, also emphasized the sector’s central role in addressing Africa’s food and nutrition challenges. He stressed the need to ensure that nutritious livestock products are accessible, available, and affordable to consumers. “Livestock provides nutrient-dense food. We need to ensure these products are accessible, available, and affordable for consumers,” Senbeto said. Improving production efficiency, he added, would increase supply, reduce prices, and allow more children and mothers to access nutritious foods. “If Africa makes its livestock production systems more efficient, production will increase and products will become more affordable. That will help address both nutritional challenges and broader food security concerns,” he said. Senbeto noted that livestock already makes a significant contribution to agricultural GDP in many African countries and that improving the sector’s efficiency could further enhance its contribution to economic development. “Livestock is already a major contributor to agricultural GDP. If we improve the sector’s efficiency, it can play an even greater role in ensuring both food security and nutrition security,” he said. Unlocking this potential, however, will require stronger government support, increased private-sector participation, and improved access to finance, Senbeto said.   Investment is needed across the entire livestock value chain, from production and animal health to processing, cold-chain facilities, aggregation centers, and transport infrastructure. “Creating livestock-tailored financing to support production, processing, and cold-chain development is critically important. We also need intentional investment in livestock-focused infrastructure, including animal-health systems, aggregation facilities, and transport networks,” he said. According to Senbeto, coordinated government policies, targeted incentives, and increased private investment are essential for Africa to fully harness its livestock wealth. He cited Ethiopia’s Bounty of the Basket (Ye Lemat Tirufat) initiative as an example of targeted government intervention. The national program aims to increase the production of dairy, poultry, eggs, honey, fish, and meat while improving food and nutrition security. The experts said Africa must move beyond viewing livestock solely as a traditional livelihood activity and instead recognize it as a strategic economic sector capable of driving food security, better nutrition, trade, employment, and inclusive economic growth. With the right investments, policies, and market systems, Africa’s livestock wealth could become one of the continent’s most important untapped engines of economic transformation, the hoped.

Addis Ababa, July 22, 2026 (ENA) — Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) affirmed it has been committed in expanding cold chain infrastructure and promoting hybrid sorghum production as part of a broader effort to reduce post-harvest losses, improve productivity and increase farmers' income. Speaking to ENA, Chief Executive Officer Mandefro Nigussie said ATI is pursuing a two-pronged strategy that focuses on minimizing losses along the agricultural value chain while increasing the production of strategic crops. "The losses are significant when you take fruits and vegetables. Grains are better, but still you have post-harvest losses," he said. To address the challenge, ATI has begun introducing refrigerated transport and storage facilities in major fruit and vegetable producing areas. "We are establishing cold chains in areas where it is produced. So, in areas where we produce vegetables and fruits, we introduced cold chains. It has a cooling system and zero damage in terms of destruction," Mandefro said. He explained that conventional trucks used to transport grain are unsuitable for perishable products, making specialized refrigerated vehicles essential. "For fruits and vegetables, you need special trucks that have controlled temperature and built in cooling systems so that they preserve the fruit or the vegetable without damaging it," he said. According to the CEO, pilot cold chain interventions launched in Ethiopia's Rift Valley have produced encouraging results and will be expanded to other major production corridors across the country. Alongside improving post-harvest handling, ATI is also implementing a comprehensive roadmap to transform Ethiopia's sorghum sector by tackling challenges across the entire value chain. "The first thing done in the country is the roadmap development, the flagship program document development," Mandefro said. He noted that the roadmap identifies key bottlenecks while clearly assigning responsibilities to institutions involved in seed multiplication, production, processing, marketing and domestic and international trade. The coordinated approach is expected to improve productivity, strengthen food security and enhance farmers' earnings. Mandefro also highlighted the success of ATI's cluster farming model for sorghum, which demonstrated higher productivity and increased overall production during the previous farming season. "Last year, we were able to demonstrate that cluster farming using sorghum is highly productive, can give better productivity and total production. We proved that," he said, adding that ATI plans to expand both the cultivated area and the number of participating farmers this season. A key component of the expansion is the introduction of hybrid sorghum seed, which ATI believes can transform the crop in the same way hybrid maize revolutionized maize production in Ethiopia. "The hybrid sorghum is like hybrid maize. The hybrid maize is what revolutionized maize productivity and maize production. So, we are going to repeat the same model of change like maize in sorghum," Mandefro said. The ATI chief emphasized that the combined interventions, reducing post-harvest losses through cold chain systems and increasing yields through hybrid sorghum technology, are expected to strengthen national food security, raise farmers' incomes and expand opportunities for both domestic and export markets for Ethiopian agricultural products.

By Jibril Lammo July 20, 2026 (ENA) For generations, Egypt’s political establishment operated on a dangerous and increasingly obsolete assumption: that downstream water security could be preserved only by keeping upstream nations weak, poor, and underdeveloped. That colonial-era logic is now collapsing. Yet as Ethiopia advances toward greater economic self-reliance, energy sovereignty, democratic consolidation, and regional connectivity, sections of Egypt’s state-backed media and official communication apparatus continue to recycle the same familiar playbook—fear, disinformation, diplomatic pressure, and political interference. The targets are clear. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is portrayed as an existential threat. Ethiopia’s National Dialogue is dismissed or delegitimized. The country’s legitimate quest for regional connectivity and secure access to the Red Sea is framed as a destabilizing ambition. At the same time, Cairo continues to mobilize diplomatic and media networks to constrain Ethiopia’s strategic options. The message behind these campaigns is increasingly transparent: Ethiopia’s rise must be contained. But Ethiopia is no longer the country that external powers could isolate, intimidate, or define on its behalf. The relentless focus on Ethiopia’s internal affairs increasingly appears less like a genuine concern for regional stability and more like a calculated effort to divert attention from Egypt’s own deepening socioeconomic pressures. Instead of confronting the structural challenges facing its own society, Cairo’s political establishment and its authorities continue to find political utility in presenting Ethiopia as a convenient external threat. That strategy may generate headlines. It cannot stop history. The GERD and the Politics of Fear   At the center of Egypt’s campaign is the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which Egyptian political and media narratives have repeatedly portrayed as a unilateral act of aggression. Such claims deliberately reduce a complex transboundary water issue to a politics of fear. The Abay (Nile) Basin is not a political possession belonging to one state. It is a shared geographic system whose future must be shaped by cooperation, science, and the equitable utilization of shared resources. Ethiopia’s position has consistently been that development and water security are not mutually exclusive. The central question is not whether one nation should control the Abay, but whether the countries of the basin can move beyond outdated notions of exclusive entitlement and build a framework that serves all riparian states. The GERD represents Ethiopia’s determination to overcome energy poverty and unlock its economic potential. For a country of more than 130 million people, with vast development needs and enormous hydropower potential, the pursuit of electricity is not an act of aggression. It is a national necessity. The broader hydrological debate also demands a more sophisticated conversation than the one offered by political propaganda. Water management across the Nile Basin involves rainfall, evaporation, watershed protection, reservoir management, agricultural use, and long-term environmental sustainability. Treating the river as a zero-sum instrument of geopolitical control serves neither science nor the people of the basin. Indeed, Ethiopia’s highland watersheds play a critical role in the broader Abay system. The protection and restoration of these ecosystems are not merely Ethiopian concerns; they are essential to the long-term health of the entire basin. Ethiopia Is Investing in the Basin’s Future   While political narratives continue to portray Ethiopia as a threat, Ethiopia is investing in the ecological foundations of its future. Through the Green Legacy Initiative, the country has undertaken one of Africa’s most ambitious environmental restoration campaigns. The initiative has focused on reforestation, watershed rehabilitation, soil conservation, and the restoration of degraded landscapes across the country. These efforts are directly connected to the long-term health of Ethiopia’s rivers and watersheds. Healthy ecosystems improve soil retention, support groundwater recharge, reduce erosion, and strengthen the resilience of landscapes that sustain millions of people. This is the reality that geopolitical propaganda often ignores. The countries of the Nile Basin, particularly the downstream nations face a choice. They can continue to pour resources into military posturing, diplomatic confrontation, and hostile media campaigns—or they can invest in cooperation, ecological restoration, scientific water management, and shared development. The first path deepens insecurity. The second creates the possibility of lasting prosperity. A Sovereign Ethiopia Can No Longer Be Isolated   Ethiopia’s transformation is not limited to the Abay. The country is a major African power with a population exceeding 130 million, a strategic geographic position, substantial economic potential, and an increasingly clear determination to shape its own future. For decades, Ethiopia’s geographical circumstances were treated as a permanent strategic constraint. Its lack of direct maritime access contributed to economic vulnerability and reinforced a broader pattern of regional isolation. That historical reality is changing. Ethiopia’s pursuit of secure and reliable access to the Red Sea is not an act of aggression against its neighbors. It is a strategic imperative arising from geography, economic necessity, and national development. A country of Ethiopia’s size and significance cannot be expected to remain permanently dependent on external arrangements for its international trade and strategic connectivity. The era in which Ethiopia could be expected to accept isolation as a permanent condition is over. Ethiopia has patiently pursued dialogue and negotiated solutions. But dialogue cannot mean the permanent preservation of historical inequality, nor can negotiations be reduced to demands that Ethiopia surrender its sovereign interests. The region must ultimately recognize a simple reality: a prosperous and connected Ethiopia is not a threat to the Horn of Africa. It can become one of the region’s greatest engines of growth. Ethiopia’s National Dialogue Will Be Shaped by Ethiopians The same principle applies to Ethiopia’s internal political affairs. Attempts by foreign commentators and regional actors to dismiss Ethiopia’s National Dialogue as political theater reveal a fundamental misunderstanding of the country’s political journey. Ethiopia’s challenges are real. Its political differences are complex. Its history is contested. But the responsibility for addressing these issues belongs first and foremost to Ethiopians. The National Dialogue represents an effort to create an institutional platform through which diverse political, social, and historical grievances can be discussed and addressed. It is not a project that requires external approval.   Ethiopia’s political future will not be designed in Cairo, Washington, or any other foreign capital. Nor will it be determined by media campaigns, proxy pressure, or external attempts to exploit internal divisions. The country’s democratic institutions may still be evolving, as they are in many nations. But Ethiopia’s political future must ultimately be negotiated by Ethiopians and shaped by the interests of the Ethiopian people. The Abay (Nile) Basin Cannot Remain Hostage to Historical Rivalry The countries of the Nile Basin are bound together by geography. Their destinies are therefore interconnected. They can either cooperate to build a future of shared prosperity, or remain trapped in a cycle of suspicion, confrontation, and geopolitical rivalry. Ethiopia has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to equitable and reasonable utilization of shared water resources. But equitable utilization cannot mean preserving the privileges of the past. Cooperation cannot mean that one country retains a veto over the development aspirations of another. The Nile is not the private property of any single nation. The future of the basin must be built on cooperation, mutual respect, scientific evidence, and the recognition of the legitimate development rights of all riparian states. Ethiopia will not accept a regional order in which its development is permanently subordinated to the political anxieties of another country. Nor will it accept the idea that its people must remain poor so that others can feel secure. The Old Playbook Is Failing Cairo’s familiar strategy—politicize Ethiopia’s development, internationalize its internal challenges, mobilize fear around the GERD, and obstruct Ethiopia’s regional ambitions—may have been effective in another era. It is increasingly failing today. Ethiopia is changing. Its economy is expanding. Its infrastructure is growing. Its environmental ambitions are increasing. Its diplomatic relationships are broadening. Its people are demanding greater prosperity, stronger institutions, and a more influential role in regional and global affairs. No media campaign can permanently reverse that trajectory. The choice before Egypt is therefore not whether Ethiopia will develop. Ethiopia will develop. The real choice is whether Egypt will continue to treat Ethiopia’s rise as a threat—or recognize that a stable, prosperous, energy-secure, and economically connected Ethiopia can become a partner in building a stronger Nile Basin and a more prosperous Horn of Africa. The era of containment is ending. The era of Ethiopian sovereignty is advancing. And no amount of propaganda can stop a nation determined to shape its own future.