Ethiopia has positioned itself as one of Africa’s most dynamic hotel development markets, with nearly 80% of its planned hotel rooms now under construction – one of the highest ratios on the continent, according to the 2026 Hotel Chain Development Pipelines in Africa report released Tuesday.

The W Hospitality Group report reveals Ethiopia currently has 5,964 rooms across 34 hotels in its development pipeline, ranking fifth among African nations by total volume. More significantly, 4,768 of those rooms – a striking 79.9% – are already under construction, placing Ethiopia second only to Kenya (79.5%) among the continent’s top 10 markets for construction momentum.

This construction-heavy pipeline signals that new hotel supply in Ethiopia will come online faster than in many competing markets, where projects remain stalled in earlier planning stages.

“Ethiopia and Kenya both have nearly 80% of their rooms under construction, closely followed by Tanzania at 77.5%,” said Trevor Ward, Managing Director of W Hospitality Group. “What stands out this year is the strength of East Africa in terms of projects moving forward. Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania show some of the highest construction ratios on the continent, which suggests that this is where we are likely to see new supply coming through in the short to medium term.”

The contrast with other major markets is stark. Nigeria, Africa’s third-largest pipeline by volume with 8,480 rooms, has only 39.2% of those rooms under construction. Egypt, which dominates the continent with a staggering 45,984 pipeline rooms, is actively building just over half (51.4%) of its planned capacity.

Ethiopian hotels in the pipeline average 175 rooms, slightly above the continental average, suggesting development focused on mid-to-large scale properties.

The East African construction boom comes as part of a broader continental expansion, with Africa’s total hotel pipeline reaching a record 123,846 rooms across 675 properties – an 18.6% year-on-year increase. However, the report warns that development activity is increasingly concentrated, with the top 10 countries now accounting for 79% of all pipeline rooms.

While more than 65,000 rooms are projected to open across Africa in 2026 and 2027, the report cautions that historical actualization rates suggest actual deliveries may fall short of current forecasts.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has issued new leadership appointments for the Addis Ababa Police Commission, effective from March 11, 2026.

Accordingly, the following officials have been appointed:  Lt. General Asrat Denero Commissioner of the Addis Ababa Police Commission, Assistant Commissioner Tofik Meded – Deputy Commissioner of the Addis Ababa Police Commission and Erzik Issa– Deputy Commissioner of the Addis Ababa Police Commission. (EBC)

Ethiopia has urged the global community to cooperate on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, emphasizing its role in supporting sustainable development, industrial growth, and reliable electricity supply for its rapidly growing population.

The appeal was made by Ethiopia’s Minister of Irrigation and Lowland Areas, Abraham Belay, who spoke on behalf of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed at the Second Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris, France.

The summit, hosted by the Government of the French Republic in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), brought together Heads of State, government leaders, international organizations, financial institutions, and energy experts to discuss the future of civil nuclear energy amid rising global interest in clean and sustainable power solutions.

Addressing the summit, Minister Abraham highlighted Ethiopia’s energy challenges and the strategic rationale behind its nuclear program. (FMC)

New figures from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) show that African airlines experienceda 17.9 percent year on year increase in passenger demand in January. Airline capacity across the continent rose by 16.3 percent, while load factors reached 77 percent, signaling improved aircraft utilization as travel demand rebounds.

The rise in passenger traffic is also boosting air cargo capacity across the continent. Passenger aircraft carry freight in their belly holds, providing exporters with additional cargo space without the need for dedicated freighter planes.

This channel has become increasingly important for high-value exports, including flowers, fresh produce, pharmaceuticals, and fast-growing e-commerce shipments, moving between Africa and global markets.

Globally, aviation demand also strengthened. Airlines recorded an average load factor of 82 percent in January, the highest level ever reported for that month. International travel was the main driver of growth, with passenger demand increasing by 5.9 percent compared with the same period last year, closely matched by a 5.8 percent rise in available seat capacity. (BIA)