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The Cabinet of the Addis Ababa City Administration, in its 5th year 12th regular meeting, has approved the city’s draft budget of 502.27 billion birr (over half a trillion birr) for the 2026/27 fiscal year and directed it to the City Council. This proposed budget shows a significant increase of 152.14 billion birr, or 43.45 percent (43.45%), compared to the 2025/26 fiscal year budget, which stood at 350.13 billion birr.

It is recalled that out of the total 350.13 billion birr budget for the 2025/26 fiscal year, 91.8 billion birr was allocated for regular expenditures, 246.3 billion birr for capital works, and the remaining 12 billion birr was set aside as a reserve.
It was indicated that this year’s resource allocation and distribution primarily consider the city administration’s development strategies, poverty reduction, ensuring sustainable development goals, and scaling up residents’ demands for development and service delivery.

As stated by the city’s Mayor, Adanech Abebe, special attention is given particularly to infrastructure projects that encourage job creation (such as roads, water, housing, sanitation, transport, and fire and emergency accident prevention) as well as enhancing social services (including education, health, and subsidies for low-income residents of the city).

Accordingly, out of the total expenditure allocated to central sector institutions and sub-cities, the lion’s share, amounting to 71 percent (over 356 billion birr), is designated for poverty reduction and the implementation of sustainable development goals, while the remaining 29 percent is allocated for administrative expenses.

Capital has understood that apart from approving the budget, the cabinet deliberated and passed decisions on four other key agendas that play a major role in the city’s holistic operations and development. First, the cabinet discussed a study conducted by an independent private institution regarding the city’s capacity for revenue generation and indicated that the study should be further enriched through discussions with all stakeholders.

Additionally, the cabinet reviewed and passed a decision on a draft regulation prepared by the Justice Bureau to determine the practical organization and operation of training at the Addis Ababa City Administration Civil Servants Competency Assessment and Certification Institute. Furthermore, it is revealed that the cabinet held extensive discussions and passed decisions on a draft regulation for the enforcement of municipal holding service fees, as well as a land allocation proposal submitted for projects of national significance.

Arifpay Acquires Four Tech and Financial Firms to Broaden Market Reach

Capital News

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June 19, 2026

Arifpay Acquires Four Tech and Financial Firms to Broaden Market Reach

Arifpay, one of the leading digital payment options in Ethiopia’s financial technology sector, has announced the acquisition of four financial and technology firms as part of a aggressive strategy to broaden its market reach.

The announcement came alongside impressive growth figures, with the fintech trailblazer revealing it has facilitated a staggering 156.9 billion Birr (approximately $1 billion USD) in digital payment transactions over a four-year period spanning from 2022 to 2026.

According to a company statement sent to Capital , this massive transaction volume was driven by the processing of over 425 million digital payment orders. The milestone positions Arifpay at the absolute forefront of Ethiopia’s aggressive national shift toward a cashless economy, aligning directly with government initiatives to boost financial inclusion and modernize commercial infrastructure.

It was noted that this is contributing significantly to the government’s national journey toward building a cashless economy and ensuring financial inclusion.

The statement further indicated that Arifpay is taking strategic steps to broaden its business and technological horizons. Over the past few years, it has acquired 4 companies operating in the sector, integrating them as sister companies.

Between 2025 and 2026, the company acquired three dynamic companies:Jami, Meftehe Microfinance, and Artsplus. Although it has finalized the acquisition process for the fourth and final company, the official launch program has not yet taken place.

Currently, Arifpay is highly expanding its technological infrastructure, providing value-added digital services to its customers through its 15 different innovative solutions and product offerings.

It was emphasized that this technological transition and integration has opened a major gateway for businesses, small merchants, and consumers in the country to benefit from modern financial services without technical disparities or hassle.

U.S. imposes visa restrictions over renewed tensions in Northern Ethiopia

Capital News

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June 18, 2026

U.S. imposes visa restrictions over renewed tensions in Northern Ethiopia

The United States has announced targeted visa restrictions against individuals accused of undermining peace efforts in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, as concerns grow over a possible relapse into conflict.

In a press statement issued on June 17, U.S. State Department spokesperson Thomas “Tommy” Pigott said the measures are aimed at “hardline members” of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and their immediate family members. The decision follows renewed clashes earlier this year between the Tigray Security Forces (TSF) and the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), marking the first direct confrontation since the end of the devastating 2020–2022 war.

Washington warned that escalating tensions risk reversing fragile peace gains and destabilizing not only northern Ethiopia but the wider Horn of Africa region.

“Rising tensions between TPLF hardliners and the Ethiopian government have threatened to reignite the conflict,” Pigott said, noting that recent violence has already displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians who fear a return to full-scale war.

The visa restrictions are being implemented under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows the Secretary of State to deny entry to individuals whose actions are deemed detrimental to U.S. foreign policy interests. Secretary of State Marco Rubio authorized the move, targeting those considered responsible for or complicit in obstructing efforts to resolve the crisis in Tigray.

Epidemics know no borders

Opinion

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June 18, 2026

Recently, a new outbreak of Ebola has occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The Chinese Government is following the situation closely and promptly provided emergency humanitarian assistance to the DRC. In addition to bilateral assistance, China has also extended support to the African Union Commission and engaged in epidemic prevention and control cooperation, supporting the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in its efforts to contain the outbreak and strengthen the capacity of African countries to respond to public health emergencies.

China’s support for African countries in combating Ebola is an important demonstration of its commitment to the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind proposed by President Xi Jinping, as well as a concrete step in implementing the Ten Partnership Actions announced at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). On June 16, Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong addressed the High-Level Meeting of African Heads of State and Government and Partners on the Ebola Disease Outbreak. On behalf of China, he conveyed sympathies and support to African countries and peoples, commended the African Union for its active coordination of anti-epidemic efforts, and announced additional emergency humanitarian assistance measures.

Earlier, on June 2, the first group of Chinese medical experts dispatched to assist the DRC arrived in Kinshasa. Bringing together expertise in public health, clinical medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, and epidemic prevention and control, the team has been working closely with Congolese health authorities, medical institutions, disease control agencies and international partners. It has provided support in epidemic assessment, case management, laboratory testing, and professional training. Meanwhile, China’s 45 medical teams, comprising more than 900 medical personnel stationed across 44 African countries, continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the African people on the front lines of epidemic prevention and control.

The solidarity and cooperation demonstrated by China and Africa in combating disease vividly embody the essence of the all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era. From China’s full support for three West African countries during the Ebola outbreak in 2015, to the mutual assistance between China and Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and now to the swift deployment of Chinese medical experts following the latest Ebola outbreak, China and Africa have consistently shown mutual understanding, support, and assistance. Together, they have contributed to safeguarding global public health security, set an example for international health cooperation, and written a compelling chapter in the continued advancement of China-Africa relations.

No country can tackle global health threats alone. Solidarity and cooperation remain the most powerful weapons against epidemics. At present, Ebola prevention and control efforts in Africa face multiple challenges, including shortages of health personnel, complex security situations in affected areas, weak primary healthcare infrastructure, gaps in disease surveillance systems, and the spread of misinformation and stigmatization. These factors seriously constrain the ability of affected countries to contain the outbreak effectively.

In recent years, one major country has significantly reduced its health aid to Africa and have increasingly instrumentalized and politicized such assistance. In some cases, aid has been used as leverage to pressure recipient countries into compromising their sovereignty over data and resources, further undermining Africa’s already fragile health systems. In addition, the spillover effects of ongoing conflicts, including the confrontation between the United States and Iran, have placed greater fiscal and resource constraints on African countries’ efforts to strengthen their public health systems.

Against this backdrop, the international community should uphold the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, strengthen solidarity and cooperation, and adhere to the principles of public welfare and inclusiveness in health assistance to Africa, without attaching political conditions. Greater collaboration should be fostered with the WHO and relevant United Nations agencies, while platforms such as the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund should be fully utilized to support health cooperation projects in Africa. The international community should also support Africa CDC in strengthening public health workforce development and disease prevention and control systems, enhancing Africa’s capacity for independent epidemic response and accelerating the establishment of autonomous, sustainable, and resilient healthcare systems across the continent.

China and Africa have always been good brothers who stand together through thick and thin. China will continue to uphold the principles of sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith in developing its relations with Africa, as well as the correct approach to friendship and interests. China remains firmly committed to supporting African countries in enhancing their public health capacities and will continue to deepen cooperation in disease prevention and control, healthcare services, pharmaceutical industries, and medical talent development. These efforts will contribute to the early realization of the goals set out in the Africa Health Security and Sovereignty Agenda.

China stands ready to work with the international community to uphold the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, practice genuine multilateralism, and continue supporting the WHO in playing its leading and coordinating role in global health governance. Together, we can elevate the building of a global community of health for all to a higher level and make new and greater contributions to world peace and development, as well as to the health and well-being of all humanity.