A recent audit by Ethiopia’s Office of the Federal Auditor General has uncovered alarming discrepancies and chaos in the road safety data managed by key government agencies, raising serious concerns about the country’s ability to effectively assess and address its road traffic accident crisis.

The audit report highlights a striking inconsistency in the number of reported road traffic accident victims across government bodies. For example, in fiscal year 2021, the Ministry of Health recorded an extraordinarily high number of victims — 222,217 — compared to just 9,566 reported by the Federal Police and 14,413 by the Road Safety and Insurance Fund Service. This vast variation makes it nearly impossible to grasp the true magnitude of the problem or to allocate resources accurately.

At the core of this issue is the lack of a unified, modern data management and exchange system. Without such a system, critical information is neither consistently collected nor shared among stakeholders. The audit recommends that the Road Safety and Insurance Fund Service spearhead the development of a comprehensive data management platform that would involve federal and state police, customs commissions, insurance institutions, and other relevant actors. Such integration is essential for generating reliable, up-to-date data on vehicles and accidents.

The report also estimates that nearly one-third — about 438,000 — of the country’s 1.4 million registered vehicles operate without the mandatory third-party insurance, leaving victims of accidents involving these vehicles vulnerable and without access to rightful compensation and medical treatment.

Further complicating the picture, the Federal Police reportedly do not document accidents occurring on internal city roads or on roads under construction that have yet to be officially handed over to administrative authorities. This omission denies many accident victims the ability to receive emergency medical services or compensation through the Road Safety and Insurance Fund.

The audit draws particular attention to regional disparities as well. In the Sidama region, for instance, none of the 40,000 motorcycles are insured, and only 12,000 drivers possess valid licenses. Given the rising use of motorcycles, these findings signal a significant and alarming threat to road safety and accountability.

Covering the period from 2021 through April 2024/25, the audit includes detailed reform recommendations urging immediate corrective action to ensure both consistency with the law and improved effectiveness of road safety measures.

In response to the audit findings, the Road Safety and Insurance Fund Service acknowledged the discrepancies and described the problem as long-standing. They explained that the higher victim numbers reported by the Ministry of Health likely reflect data duplication because victims may receive treatment at multiple healthcare facilities. The service noted ongoing efforts to rectify data inconsistencies, though the audit findings expressed skepticism, pointing out the lack of tangible progress to date.

Additionally, the auditors found no evidence to support the Service’s claim that its third-party insurance collection system is effectively operational.

Another critical observation from the audit is the tendency for road accident cases to be handled informally by local elders instead of being officially reported and processed. This practice further undermines efforts to build an accurate record of road incidents and to enforce accountability.

The report concludes with a call for enhanced collaboration among government bodies and institutions to improve data accuracy and to address the systemic challenges that obstruct effective road safety initiatives.

Ethiopia faces a severe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) crisis, with 37 million people still lacking access to basic water services, according to the latest WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) report released on August 25, 2025. This stark figure makes Ethiopia one of the focal points of the global struggle for safe and equitable water access.

The report, titled Progress on Household Drinking Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene from 2000 to 2024, highlights both global advances and ongoing inequalities in WASH services. While more than 961 million people worldwide have gained access to safe drinking water since 2015, sub-Saharan Africa remains disproportionately affected. More than half of the 287 million people worldwide with limited water access live in this region, with Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo alone accounting for one-third of that vulnerable population.

Ethiopia’s crisis is deeply shaped by geographical and socio-economic inequalities. Although rural areas have seen notable improvements — improved water availability rose from 14% in 2000 to 71% in 2024, growing at 2.4% per year — urban progress has lagged behind with coverage increasing modestly from 49% to 67%, or just 0.8% annually. A 2024 study in eastern Ethiopia confirmed that socio-economic factors remain a critical barrier to equitable access.

Rapid urbanization and population growth continue to strain Ethiopia’s existing water infrastructure, creating challenges in meeting escalating demand. This disparity means that the benefits of development improvements are unevenly distributed, leaving vulnerable communities behind.

Sanitation also remains a significant challenge. While the number of people practicing open defecation worldwide has decreased by 429 million since 2015, access to safe sanitation services needs to accelerate to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Political instability and limited resources compound difficulties in expanding WASH services, especially in low-income and conflict-affected areas.

For the first time, the JMP report included indicators on menstrual health—highlighting another critical but often overlooked issue. Findings from 70 countries reveal that although most women and girls use some form of menstrual hygiene materials, many lack sufficient supplies to change them adequately, posing health and social challenges.

This report underscores that Ethiopia, despite progress, faces the urgent task of addressing persistent inequalities and infrastructure gaps. With 37 million people still deprived of basic water and worsening socio-economic disparities, Ethiopia must intensify efforts to build a healthier and more equitable future for all citizens.

Facing increased competition ahead of the entry of a third telecom operator in Ethiopia, Ethio Telecom has unveiled an ambitious new three-year strategic plan titled “Next Horizon: Digital & Beyond 2028.” Launched on August 26, 2025, the plan is designed to sustain and expand Ethio Telecom’s market leadership by diversifying revenue streams and accelerating digital transformation.

Ethio Telecom, which has long been the sole telecom operator in the country, is preparing for a rapidly evolving and competitive landscape as the third operator prepares to enter the market by 2026/27. CEO Frehiwot Tamiru described the Ethiopian telecom market as “rapidly changing” and emphasized that while Ethio Telecom has achieved many successes driving Ethiopia’s digital agenda, continued innovation and regulatory support are critical to maintaining its dominant position.

In her remarks at the plan’s unveiling, Frehiwot stressed the importance of an enabling regulatory environment alongside technological advancement. She called for reforms to ease current restrictions within the regulatory framework and pledged to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to resolve outstanding challenges, particularly those related to market competition and service quality.

The strategic plan highlights several key focus areas, including boosting customer loyalty, developing tailored solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and rural markets, and launching new digital services. Ethio Telecom also plans to address external economic pressures, such as inflation, diminishing consumer purchasing power, and foreign exchange shortages, by exploring local resource sourcing, strict cost control measures, and alternative funding sources.

The “Next Horizon” plan envisions robust growth for the country’s telecommunications ecosystem over the next three years. Projections include increasing the total number of telecom subscribers to 100 million by 2028, with mobile voice and broadband users expected to rise significantly. Mobile broadband subscribers alone are forecasted to reach 67.3 million, alongside 1.6 million fixed broadband customers.

Ethio Telecom’s flagship mobile money platform, Telebirr, is slated for remarkable expansion, with user numbers expected to grow by 36.8% to 75 million. Transaction volumes are projected to surge by 334%, reaching 21.3 trillion birr, while the number of transactions is forecasted to jump 439%, exceeding 10 billion. Revenues from Telebirr services are anticipated to increase sixfold, fostering a strengthened digital financial ecosystem with over 960,000 traders and 840,000 agents.

The company forecasts total revenue of 842.3 billion birr over the plan period — a 154% increase compared to the previous strategy. This growth will stem not only from traditional telecom services but also from expanding enterprise solutions, equipment sales, and emerging digital services. Foreign exchange earnings are also expected to grow, reaching approximately US$976 million.

Ethio Telecom reaffirmed its commitment to contributing substantially to the national economy with plans to remit 253 billion birr in direct and indirect taxes and deliver over 111 billion birr in dividends to the government within the next three years.

The Ethiopian government has officially rejected private airline operators’ calls to separate the Ethiopian Airports Enterprise (EAE) from the Ethiopian Airlines Group (EAG), affirming the continued integration of the two entities despite longstanding concerns over potential conflicts of interest.

Minister of Transport and Logistics Alemu Sime addressed private air transport operators during a recent consultative forum, acknowledging the validity of their concerns but emphasizing that the separation is currently impossible, particularly given plans for a massive new airport construction project. “In hindsight, the merger of airports and the airline may have been a mistake,” Alemu conceded, “but considering our future infrastructure projects, especially the new airport, separation is not feasible at this time.”

The years following the 2019 merger have seen rapid growth in Ethiopia’s aviation sector, with Ethiopian Airlines consistently expanding its international footprint and revenue. In the last fiscal year, the airline reported robust financial performance and expanded its fleet and services. Key ongoing projects include the $6 billion mega airport development planned near Bishoftu, designed to handle up to 100 million passengers annually in its final phase, slated for completion by 2029. This new infrastructure is expected to significantly increase Ethiopia’s aviation capacity while reinforcing Addis Ababa’s position as a leading African aviation hub.

Private airlines have long argued that Ethiopian Airlines’ control over vital infrastructure, such as Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport, creates an unfair competitive environment. They contend that independent management of airports is essential to foster competition and ensure equitable treatment of all air transport operators.

Despite this, the government maintains that the Ethiopian Airports Enterprise will retain internal autonomy and continue to provide integrated services for all airport stakeholders while working under the umbrella of the Ethiopian Airlines Group. The merger, initially approved by the Council of Ministers in 2017 under the Vision 2025 strategic plan, aims to consolidate aviation-related activities—including passenger and cargo services, maintenance, training, and hospitality—to drive industry growth and regional connectivity.

At the forum held at the Skylight Hotel, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority, and private operators convened to discuss the evolving aviation landscape. Civil Aviation Authority Director General Yohannes Abera joined Alemu in addressing issues raised by private players, including delays in flight licensing, limited aircraft maintenance services availability, as well as the absence of a clear regulatory framework enabling private carriers to operate international flights.

Alemu underscored the need to modernize the aviation sector in light of growing demand for air travel and related services. He highlighted government efforts to expand and upgrade smaller airports and routes in partnership with major infrastructure and tourism developments nationwide. His encouragement to private operators to deepen their participation reflected a commitment to fostering a competitive yet collaborative industry environment.

While separation of the airports from Ethiopian Airlines remains off the table for now, the government assured private operators that the evolving Aviation Policy will include measures to ensure fair oversight. The Civil Aviation Authority will exercise strict supervision, guaranteeing the provision of equal services to all operators until new policies are formalized.