Following hard on the heels of the confirmation of the new African Business Aviation Association, AfBAA leadership team, which confirmed Dawit Lemma as Chairperson and Craig Middleton as Vice Chair, the executives have confirmed plans to renew AfBAA’s mission, vision and goals. To meet the dynamic needs of an organization that represents some 40 different civil aviation authorities across the continent,  a broad range of aviation operations, and a diverse membership, Lemma and Middleton will build on key pillars to generate momentum, raise visibility, and demonstrate credibility across the continent and internationally.

The priorities include listening to and advocating for members on issues identified as the most pressing to advance African business aviation. “We know that our members rely on us to lobby on their behalf, identify common issues that need resolving, and act as a single voice with regulators, industry, and international organizations, so identifying the main concerns and creating strategy to resolve them is top of our list,” explains Lemma confirming the board will be reaching out to members to establish what they want the organization to focus on.

Inter Ethiopia, led by CEO Zelalem Nigatu, received a Special Commendation and Trophy at the UNECE PPP and Infrastructure Award 2025. The accolade was presented during the 9th UNECE International Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Forum in Belgrade, Serbia, recognizing the company’s innovative “Refurbishing Solar Systems” project.

The project stood out for its pioneering approach to making clean energy more affordable and accessible, while advancing circular economy principles and environmental sustainability. This recognition marks a significant milestone for Ethiopia’s green technology sector and highlights the nation’s growing influence in sustainable infrastructure development.

Zelalem expressed deep gratitude to the UNECE PPP Secretariat and the international jury for the honor, emphasizing the collective effort of the Inter Ethiopia team and its partners. The award underscores the importance of sustainable PPPs in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially as only 12 percent of the global goals are currently on track.

The Greening Financial Systems Programme was officially launched in Ethiopia today by Ethiopian and international partners at the Ethiopia Finance Forum.

This transformative initiative aims to strengthen the resilience of Ethiopia’s financial sector to climate change by embedding climate risk into regulatory frameworks, advancing climate-related disclosures, and supporting the financing of sustainable projects across the country.

The National Bank of Ethiopia: Driving the green finance agenda

At the heart of this initiative is the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), which is spearheading efforts to integrate climate considerations into the core of the financial sector. Recognizing the growing risks climate change poses to financial stability, the NBE is undertaking a strategic reform to align Ethiopia’s financial system with national climate objectives and international sustainability standards.

Demonstrating its strong institutional commitment, the NBE has established a high-level internal oversight and coordination team to guide the implementation, monitor progress, and ensure effective follow-up of the GFS Programme. This team brings together senior experts from across the Bank to oversee integration of climate risk considerations into supervisory frameworks and to coordinate with stakeholders on the development of green finance tools.

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) held a public oral hearing on 14 May 2025 in a case filed by Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) and its partners, accusing the Ethiopian government of committing “widespread human rights violations” during the Tigray war—violations they allege “have persisted” despite the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA) in November 2022. In a statement following the hearing, Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) and partners described it as “growing international recognition” of what it said were grave violations committed by Ethiopia against civilians, including “mass killings and sexual violence,” as well as forced displacement, famine, and a prolonged communication blackout…The hearing is part of a broader series of international efforts seeking accountability…The complaint echoes findings by the now-dissolved International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE), which, in its final report before its mandate expired in October 2023, documented evidence of “war crimes and crimes against humanity committed on a staggering scale.” (Addis Standard)