The Authority for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO)  has strictly emphasized that any civil society organization is obligated to follow National Bank directives and legal procedures when receiving and utilizing financial support from abroad.

In a statement released on April 23, 2026, the Authority announced that “serious legal measures” will be taken against organizations that receive, transfer, or use foreign currency outside the formal legal banking system.

The Authority confirmed that it will strengthen its monitoring and supervision work by utilizing the powers and responsibilities granted to it under Proclamation No. 1113/2019.

The Authority’s oversight mechanisms include conducting deep reviews of financial reports, verifying project funding sources and utilization in person through field inspections, and investigating specific financial irregularities in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

The directive explains that any financial support a civil society organization receives from foreign countries, international institutions, donor organizations, or individuals living abroad must pass exclusively through the legal banking system.

The primary requirements include ensuring the foreign currency is deposited directly into the organization’s legal foreign currency bank account, maintaining appropriate supporting documents for all financial transfers to be presented upon request, and ensuring that any transfer or use of foreign currency for another organization follows the same legal procedures as the initial receipt.

This directive was issued based on the necessity of ensuring that the civil society sector operates in alignment with its established purposes and the nation’s financial security.

It was noted that organizations operating in violation of National Bank procedures could be held accountable for illegal money laundering or for utilizing funds for purposes other than those intended.

“Giving, receiving, or using financial support or donations outside the legal banking system is a serious violation of the law,” the Authority’s statement read, adding that “the Authority will take appropriate legal measures against any organization found guilty.”

Civil society organizations operating in Ethiopia are advised to immediately review their internal financial control systems to ensure they are in compliance with these strict operational directives.

Ethiopia is currently hosting the inaugural “Addis Africa” Real Estate Exhibition, marking the first East African regional conference of its kind. Opened this Thursday, this dual-purpose program aims to harmonize policy frameworks across the Horn of Africa while positioning Addis Ababa as a premier continental hub for real estate investment.

The East African regional conference has brought together policymakers and industry leaders to strengthen trade exchange and synchronize housing development regulations across member nations.

State Minister of Urban Development and Infrastructure, Helen Debebe, emphasized the strategic importance of the event, stating, “Hosting these two major milestones together presents a significant opportunity to energize the sector and ignite economic activity across the entire region.”

Alemayehu Ketema President of the Ethiopian Real Estate Developers Association explained that participation in the exhibition is strictly limited to legally recognized and certified members of the association. This exclusivity allows potential customers to engage with reputable companies without the risk of fraud, ensuring they enter into secure and reliable contracts.

The extensive participation of banks and financial institutions is a cornerstone of the event, expected to pave the way for home seekers to access long-term mortgage solutions and improved payment options. By drawing inspiration from the long-standing regulatory experiences of countries like Kenya and Nigeria, the event serves as a catalyst for establishing a more systematic and well-regulated housing industry in Ethiopia.

Running from April 23 to April 26, 2026, the exhibition is designed to turn the dream of homeownership into a reality. The collaborative presence of financial stakeholders ensures that visitors can explore viable financing paths, ultimately bridging the gap between housing demand and affordable investment opportunities.

Wildberries, the international e-commerce giant, has entered Ethiopia by opening its platform to local sellers. Its broader strategy focuses on adapting its global model to the local market. It has confirmed it is working closely with local partners to enable smoother last-mile delivery and payment integration, including enabling transactions in Birr. 

The company noted that it has successfully expanded to 11 countries so far, recently selecting Ethiopia as its strategic “gateway” for entry into the African continent. 

Biruk Genene, the first Ethiopian Country Manager of Wildberries, told Capital that the company prioritizes local currency for payments to help domestic entrepreneurs minimize losses caused by exchange rate fluctuations and conversion costs.

The executive explained that the decision to enter Ethiopia was driven by the country’s unique macroeconomic conditions and the government’s robust digital transformation agenda.

 “We chose Ethiopia because we see its strong potential for e-commerce development,” Biruk stated, noting that the country serves as the political capital of East Africa and a logistics hub for the rest of the continent.

He added that this launch aligns directly with the Digital Ethiopia 2030 vision, which seeks to modernize the economy through technology.

Wildberries and Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in November 2025. Following that agreement, Biruk updated Capital on the current status, stating that both parties are currently undertaking a feasibility study to evaluate the possibility of establishing a joint venture in the coming weeks.

To address “last-mile delivery”—one of the biggest challenges in the commerce sector—the company has entered into an agreement with EthioPost. This collaboration aims to streamline local delivery, enhance storage and processing capacities, and establish reliable direct operations from the seller to the customer.

A core pillar of Wildberries’ strategy in Ethiopia is the promotion of local exports. In its first phase, the platform will offer Ethiopian sellers the opportunity to present their products to an international market of over 200 million customers. 

The company announced that it handles an average of 25 million orders per day. Wildberries noted that “Russian-speaking customers already know and love Ethiopian products. Organic and authentic Ethiopian products will have a strong competitive advantage, and Ethiopian sellers will be able to enjoy the platform’s strong marketing and visibility capabilities to reach millions of new customers,” indicating high demand for value-added goods such as textiles, coffee, and cosmetics. 

The company has established its headquarters in Kazanchis and is actively onboarding local professionals to lead its operations. 

This update follows the official announcement on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, that Wildberries—the leading digital platform in Eurasia—has opened its platform to Ethiopian sellers. 

The inauguration ceremony was attended by representatives of the Ethiopian and Russian governments, over 150 local entrepreneurs, and Wildberries leadership, marking the company’s first expansion into Africa.

Wildberries is currently calling on local sellers to register on the platform to offer Ethiopian products—including coffee, textiles, leather goods, and natural cosmetics—directly to millions of customers in Russia and neighboring countries.

In the global race toward decarbonization, significant changes are often driven not by traditional energy giants but by agile institutions that blend digital ecosystems with physical infrastructure. In East Africa, a quiet yet substantial energy revolution is taking shape, with Ethio telecom at the forefront. The company is rapidly transforming from a conventional connectivity provider into a multifaceted utility designed to power Ethiopia’s digital and green future.

The recent inauguration of a fourth public Super-Fast Smart EV Charging Station in Adama, the first expansion outside the capital, Addis Ababa, marks a pivotal moment. This development indicates that Ethiopia’s transition to electric mobility is evolving from pilot projects to a coordinated, national strategic rollout.

Beyond Connectivity

For global observers, the entry of a telecommunications giant into the energy and transport sectors may seem unconventional. However, within the framework of its “Next Horizon: Digital and Beyond 2028” strategy, this convergence exemplifies strategic resilience. By utilizing its existing towers, fiber networks, and digital payment systems, Ethio telecom is uniquely positioned to address the infrastructure gap that hampers EV adoption.

This shift is more than mere diversification; it represents a structural repositioning. By integrating itself into the transport and energy sectors, Ethio telecom is anchoring the nation’s transportation systems in domestically generated, digitally managed electricity.

The Power of Data and AI-Driven Infrastructure

The Adama station is not just a hardware installation; it functions as an AI-powered node within a growing smart grid. With 180 kW super-fast chargers, the facility employs artificial intelligence to assess battery health and tailor charging sessions to specific vehicle requirements, including European models that previously faced compatibility issues in the region.

Since its launch in February 2025, Ethio telecom’s EV infrastructure has shown significant growth and impact. The opening of the Adama station has increased the network’s total capacity to accommodate 60 vehicles simultaneously, facilitating over 284,000 charging sessions and delivering more than 7.1 million kWh of energy. This transition has led to a measurable environmental benefit, preventing over 10 million kilograms of CO2 emissions—an impact roughly equivalent to planting 50,000 trees and a direct contribution to Ethiopia’s Green Legacy goals.

Telebirr as the Digital Glue of the Green Economy

The key to this rollout lies in the integration with telebirr, Ethio telecom’s mobile finance platform. By transforming energy consumption into a seamless digital transaction, the company has addressed the monetization and user experience challenges that often hinder public infrastructure projects.

Through the telebirr SuperApp, drivers enjoy a fully automated experience, from locating charging stations and monitoring charging progress in real-time via 5G/4G cloud servers to “Tap-to-Charge” NFC authentication and instant payment. This integration elevates electricity from a basic utility to a high-tech, self-service consumer product.

Orchestrating a National Ecosystem

Perhaps Ethio telecom’s most strategic decision is to act not as a monopolist but as an ecosystem orchestrator. The launch of its National EV Charging Platform allows third-party stakeholders to incorporate their charging stations into a unified digital network.

By providing the necessary software, payment gateway, and monitoring tools to other players, Ethio telecom is lowering the entry barriers for the entire private sector. This platform-based approach ensures interoperability, a crucial factor for the long-term success of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy initiative.

A Blueprint for Emerging Markets

As geopolitical tensions reveal the vulnerabilities of global fuel supply chains, Ethiopia’s emphasis on domestically produced renewable energy—primarily hydroelectric—coupled with a digital distribution network offers a blueprint for regional resilience.

Ethio telecom’s expansion into Adama sends a clear message to the international business community: Ethiopia is not waiting for the future; it is actively building the infrastructure to support it. By positioning itself at the intersection of data, finance, and energy, Ethio telecom has transitioned from a spectator in the digital revolution to the driving force behind the country’s green transformation.