KEFI Gold and Copper Plc has announced that its subsidiary, KME Minerals (Ethiopia) Holding S.C., has appointed CBE Capital Investment Bank as adviser for a proposed issuance of U.S. dollar-denominated, gold-linked preference shares aimed at selected financial institutions in Ethiopia.

The announcement was made at the Ethio-British Business Investment Forum in London. According to the company, the proposed instrument — dubbed “Gold Preference Shares” — is intended to support growth in Ethiopia’s gold and critical minerals sector while also strengthening ties with major Ethiopian financial institutions.

KEFI said the preference shares would be redeemable at the end of an eight-year term and would carry an annual 15 percent coupon. Investors would also receive an additional return if the gold price received by KEFI exceeds the price prevailing at the time of issuance.

The company said the proceeds are expected to support expansion opportunities and future growth initiatives, with no dilution for shareholders at the listed parent company level.

The Government of Ethiopia has officially launched the Makatet Roadmap in Addis Ababa, marking a historic turning point in its approach to refugee protection.

Developed through an intense, nationally driven process involving federal and regional institutions, development partners, UN agencies, civil society and refugee representatives, this comprehensive framework established a unified blueprint for the socio-economic inclusion of refugees while significantly benefiting their gracious host communities. By shifting from temporary humanitarian relief to sustainable, government-led development planning, the roadmap set out to transform existing camp structures into cohesive, self-sustaining human settlements integrated with national service delivery systems.

The high-level gathering at the Adwa Museum served as a national platform to present the finalized multisectoral framework and secure collective investment for its operational phase. The framework has officially been launched by Ethiopia’s Honorable Speaker of the HPRs Ato Tagesse Chaffo and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, culminating in a cultural performance refugee youth group.

New data from Worldpanel by Numerator suggests that oral hygiene products are not part of the regular shopping habits of many Ethiopian households, with around seven in ten households not purchasing toothpaste in the past year.

The findings point to a significant gap in the adoption of one of the most widely recommended preventive oral health practices: regular toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste.

Across much of Africa, toothpaste is a staple household product and category penetration typically exceeds 95%. Ethiopia stands apart, with the majority of households not participating in the category at all. The data suggests that the challenge is not simply one of low consumption, but of limited adoption. Many households continue to rely on traditional oral care methods such as chewing sticks and miswak, while factors including affordability pressures, limited product availability in some areas and lower awareness of preventive oral healthcare may also contribute to low toothpaste usage.

The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is scheduled to hold its Second Quarter Accountability and Programme Performance Review Meeting (APPRM) at the United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa from June 17 to 19.

The event, themed “Enhancing Joint Delivery for Improved Results after UN@80 Reforms: A Mid-Year Review,” will bring together ECA’s leadership, programme managers, and partners to evaluate progress toward the Commission’s 2026 Annual Business Plan targets.

During the APPRM, participants will focus on advancements in ECA’s subprogrammes and support divisions, with particular emphasis on collaborative efforts across four key thematic areas: the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Regional Value Chains, Technology and Digital Transformation, and Macroeconomic Policy and Planning. The meeting will also examine resource mobilization and implementation challenges to pinpoint areas that need acceleration or modification.