Ethiopia has enacted a new law requiring every urban landholding and immovable property to be assigned a unique, non-replicable national identification code. The Urban Landholding Registration Proclamation No. 1381/2017, recently approved by the House of Representatives, aims to modernize the country’s land management system and enhance the accuracy and legitimacy of land-related transactions.The proclamation, passed with a majority vote amid two opposing votes and three abstentions, establishes a single-account system designed to ensure correct registration of landholdings, confirm ownership rights, and reduce disputes. It mandates that no identification code other than the special land tenure identification code created under this law can be used for land registration purposes.A key feature of the law is its updated definition of “cadaster,” now described as a comprehensive system that collects and organizes detailed information on land tenure and immovable property. This includes physical attributes such as land dimensions, bordering boundaries, topography, and cadastral maps. The clarification addresses previous ambiguities between “cadaster” and “registration” processes.The proclamation requires that up-to-date information on land rights, restrictions, and responsibilities be maintained both on paper and through digital registration systems. This dual approach leverages technology to improve accessibility and efficiency in managing land tenure data.To ensure compliance, the law imposes strict penalties on officials or practitioners who deliberately obstruct or delay registration processes. Violators face imprisonment from six months to two years and fines ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 birr. This provision underscores the government’s commitment to enforcing accurate and timely land registration.Under the new law, once the possession verification authority confirms that submitted documents meet the necessary criteria, the registration institution’s records serve as legal proof of ownership unless contrary evidence emerges. Applications for certificates of tenure rights can be submitted in person or online, accompanied by supporting documents.The proclamation is expected to facilitate clearer land boundaries, reduce conflicts, and provide a reliable foundation for land administration, urban planning, and economic development.

A newly proposed draft proclamation aimed at regulating foreign ownership and occupation of real estate has ignited concerns that housing prices could soar further, worsening an already strained housing market and making homeownership increasingly difficult for local residents.The draft law, titled “Proclamation to Regulate the Ownership and Holding of Immovable Property by Foreign Nationals,” seeks to establish a legal framework allowing foreigners to own housing or acquire land for construction in the country. The government argues that the measure is necessary to meet growing housing demand and attract foreign investment to revitalize the real estate sector.Ethiopia has experienced rapid urbanization, population growth, and increased foreign investment in recent years. These trends, coupled with rural-to-urban migration and changing lifestyles, have fueled a surge in housing demand. Studies estimate that between 2015 and 2025, approximately 471,000 new homes are needed annually to bridge the housing gap.Currently, up to 64% of urban residents live in informal settlements due to the mismatch between housing supply and demand. The real estate market is expanding rapidly, with the total value projected to reach 47.4 billion birr by 2024 and expected to grow at an annual rate of 9.85% through 2028, reaching nearly 70 billion birr. Residential real estate transactions alone are forecasted to account for 36.89 billion birr in 2024.Globally, countries vary widely in how they regulate foreign ownership of land and property—some have liberalized policies, while others maintain strict controls. Ethiopia’s draft proclamation aims to strike a balance: encouraging foreign capital inflows without compromising the land ownership rights of its citizens.Under the proposed law, foreign investors—defined as individuals or entities owning at least $150,000 in paid-up capital of an investment—would be eligible to purchase real estate after obtaining permits from the Ministry of Urban Development and Construction. The minimum investment for purchasing or lease-to-own property is set at $150,000, with limits on the number of properties a foreigner can own to be determined by subsequent guidelines.Proponents view the draft proclamation as a vital step toward stimulating economic growth, expanding modern housing developments, and improving infrastructure such as electricity, water, security, health, and education. The Ethiopian Investment Board supports the initiative as a means to build investor confidence and maintain a positive investment climate.However, critics warn that allowing increased foreign ownership could drive up housing prices, further limiting affordability for Ethiopian citizens. Housing advocates urge the government to carefully monitor market dynamics and implement safeguards to prevent negative impacts on local residents’ cost of living.The draft proclamation is currently under review, with stakeholders calling for broad consultations to address public concerns and ensure that the law balances investment attraction with social equity.

In a significant stride toward eradicating one of Africa’s deadliest neglected diseases, health ministers from Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan have signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar. The agreement was formalized during a high-level ceremony organized by the African Union and the World Health Organization (WHO) on the sidelines of the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva.Visceral leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease second only to malaria in terms of lethality. It causes fever, severe fatigue, weight loss, and enlargement of the spleen and liver, and is often fatal if untreated. The Eastern African region bears more than 70% of the global burden, with half of the affected being children under 15.The newly signed MoU commits the six countries to invest resources, develop regional strategies, and collaborate closely to achieve the elimination targets set out in the visceral leishmaniasis elimination framework, launched by Eastern African nations in June 2024.The event also saw Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Tanzania join the call for increased cross-border cooperation and collective action against other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

These diseases affect over a billion people annually, disproportionately impacting vulnerable and impoverished communities.“Diseases do not stop at borders — and neither should our response. More than 600 million people on our continent remain at risk of at least one of the neglected tropical diseases,” said Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, in a statement delivered by Dr. Landry Tsague Dongmo.Significant progress has been made in the fight against NTDs: as of May 2025, 56 countries have eliminated at least one NTD, with recent successes in Mauritania, Chad, Guinea, and Niger. However, the interconnected nature of these diseases—often transmitted by animals and exacerbated by climate change and migration—means that regional cooperation is essential.Dr. Ibrahima Socé Fall, Director of the WHO Global Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme, emphasized, “The critical role of country-led efforts and cross-border collaboration in accelerating elimination cannot be overemphasized.”There is a pressing need for new, improved oral treatments for visceral leishmaniasis. Dr. Luis Pizarro, Executive Director of the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), highlighted the importance of medical innovation, citing the recent elimination of kala-azar in Bangladesh as proof that global eradication is possible.The Geneva event was spearheaded by the African Union Commission, the Global Onchocerciasis Network for Elimination (GONE), and WHO, with support from the END Fund and DNDi.

Ethiopia is gaining international attention as a promising hub for innovation, with the recently released Startup Ecosystem Report 2025 highlighting the country among the world’s leading “Contender Ecosystems.” According to the report, these are countries with emerging startup scenes that have not yet reached the global top 100 but are demonstrating strong potential to join the ranks in future editions.The Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2025, published by StartupBlink, notes that Ethiopia’s ecosystem is rapidly evolving, driven by a surge in entrepreneurial activity, a growing pool of tech talent, and supportive government initiatives. “Contender Ecosystems” are specifically recognized for their momentum and capacity to make significant leaps in global rankings, and Ethiopia stands out as a notable example in this year’s analysis.The report credits Ethiopia’s progress to several factors, including increased collaboration between the public and private sectors, the rise of innovation hubs in cities like Addis Ababa, and a focus on digital infrastructure and policy reforms. The country’s population of over 120 million presents a vast untapped market, further fueling the interest of investors and ecosystem builders.“Ethiopia is showing remarkable growth and is well-positioned to break into the global top 100 startup ecosystems in the near future,” the report states. It also highlights the importance of maintaining momentum in Addis Ababa’s ecosystem while encouraging other cities to join the global startup map.The Startup Ecosystem Report 2025 emphasizes that contender countries like Ethiopia are critical to the future of global innovation, as they represent new frontiers for entrepreneurship and technology-driven development. The report encourages continued investment in talent, infrastructure, and regulatory improvements to help these ecosystems realize their full potential.