EBR_News Mar 17, 2026

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Ozonnia Ojielo of Nigeria as the new UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ethiopia, with the host government’s approval effective March 14, 2026, according to an announcement from the United Nations.

Ojielo brings more than 25 years of experience in sustainable development, governance, peacebuilding, and conflict prevention to the role, having overseen UN programmes and projects across four continents. He most recently served as UN Resident Coordinator in Rwanda, where he provided strategic leadership to the UN Country Team and engaged closely with development partners and senior government leaders to advance national development priorities.

EBR_News Mar 16, 2026

The AlHuda Centre of Islamic Banking and Economics (CIBE), a globally recognized advisory and research institution based in the UAE, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ethiopian Interest Free Finance Professionals Association (EIFFPA) to strengthen capacity building, advocacy, and knowledge sharing for the development of Sharia-compliant finance in Ethiopia, according to a joint press release issued today.

The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration in key areas including professional education and training, conferences and seminars, public awareness initiatives, policy advocacy, and professional exposure visits. The partnership aims to support the growth of interest-free finance by engaging stakeholders, developing policy materials, and strengthening the technical capacity of industry practitioners.

EBR_News Mar 16, 2026

Chef Fariyal Abdullahi, an acclaimed culinary talent of Ethiopian ancestry, has been selected to create exclusive inflight meals for United Airlines’ international business-class passengers, according to a March 12 announcement by the airline.

Fariyal, the Executive Chef of the renowned New York restaurant Hav & Mar, is one of 11 world-renowned chefs from four continents chosen to curate regionally inspired dishes for United’s Polaris business class. Her cooking at Hav & Mar is described as a convergence of her travels and Ethiopian ancestry, brought to life with an infusion of European technique and unique flavors.

EBR_News Mar 16, 2026

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) has issued an urgent call for strict fuel conservation across Ethiopia, citing severe disruptions in global oil supplies caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict that has made it increasingly difficult for importing nations to secure consistent deliveries, according to a statement posted on his social media pages.

The Prime Minister urged fuel distributors, gas station operators, and the general public to prioritize essential services and use fuel responsibly until regular supply chains are restored. “We must all act with a sense of responsibility by saving fuel and prioritizing basic necessities,” Abiy stated, emphasizing that collective discipline is required to navigate the current global energy challenge.

The appeal follows a nationwide crackdown announced last week by Finance Minister Ahmed Shide, who warned that legal action has begun against entities accused of selling subsidized fuel above government-mandated prices. The government allocates more than $4.2 billion annually to import petroleum products, with current subsidies reaching 98.29 birr per liter for white diesel and 73.56 birr for gasoline compared to international delivery prices at Djibouti port.

Authorities have initiated legal measures targeting traders and collaborators operating outside official distribution channels, with studies showing that fuel imported with large foreign-currency allocations is being diverted and sold on black markets at inflated prices, creating artificial shortages.

EBR_News Mar 12, 2026

By Betegbar Yaregal

Bank of Abyssinia and Visa have signed a new agreement to strengthen their long-standing partnership and accelerate the growth of digital payment solutions across Ethiopia, according to an announcement made at the bank’s head office in Addis Ababa.

The agreement will support the continued expansion of Visa products issued by Bank of Abyssinia while enabling the bank to enhance customer experiences through advanced digital payment capabilities.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Yared Endale, Cluster Head for Eastern Africa at Visa, said the agreement marks an important milestone in the companies’ five-year relationship. “Ethiopia is an important and rapidly evolving market, and Visa remains committed to working closely with leading financial institutions to support the growth of the digital payments ecosystem.

EBR_News Mar 13, 2026

By Betegbar Yaregal

Awash Bank has unveiled three new digital applications today at Skylight Hotel, significantly expanding its digital service portfolio with a strategic focus on capturing Ethiopia’s estimated $7.1 billion annual remittance market through a new partnership with MasterCard.

CEO Tsehay Shiferaw, addressing the launch event, stated that updating services and developing convenient platforms remains the bank’s constant mission. “In the future, we will continue to provide our bank’s customers, whose number and demand are constantly increasing, with modern digital services in addition to regular banking services,” he said.

The flagship launch, Awash Remit, is a mobile money transfer platform designed specifically for Ethiopians living abroad and foreign nationals of Ethiopian origin. The app enables fast and secure transfers to friends and family, allowing senders to deposit funds directly into Awash Bank accounts, Awash Birr Pro Wallets, or enable recipients to withdraw cash from branches using Visa or MasterCard.