Ethiopia’s Strategic Ties to the Red Sea and Nile Basin Ethiopia’s future is indelibly linked to its access to vital water resources, primarily the Red Sea and the Nile Basin. This relationship was the focal point of a recent conference co-hosted by the Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA), the Defense War College, and Samara University in Samara, under the theme “The Two Water Systems and Ethiopia’s Strategic Autonomy: Exploring the Nile – Red Sea Nexus and the Afar Region’s Strategic Role.” The Importance of the Red Sea and Nile Basin During the conference, Jafar Bediru, Executive Director of the IFA,…
Author: Abren
Ethiopia Secures Renewed Support for Economic Reforms from UK and Japan Addis Ababa, October 18, 2025 – Ethiopia’s ambitious economic reform agenda has received a crucial boost as Finance Minister Ahmed Shide secured renewed commitments from both the United Kingdom and Japan. These partnerships are vital for Ethiopia’s goals to enhance economic stability and growth. Strengthening Ties with the United Kingdom During the recent World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings, Ahmed Shide engaged in productive discussions with the UK State Minister for International Development and Africa, Baroness Jenny Chapman. The focus of their talks was to fortify the longstanding partnership between Ethiopia…
Sudan’s New Approach to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam On October 1st, Prime Minister Kamil Idris of Sudan made a noteworthy commitment in Port Sudan: a public vow to reassess the trilateral arrangements concerning the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). This declaration carries significant implications for regional diplomacy and water security. A Shift in Diplomatic Strategy Idris’s pledge comes on the heels of his participation in the United Nations General Assembly, lending his words heightened credibility as he has extensive experience in international civil service. This signals a potential shift in Sudan’s engagement with both Ethiopia and Egypt concerning the…
Ethiopia Advocates for Streamlined Debt Restructuring at Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable Ethiopia is advocating for a more efficient framework to finalize its debt restructuring amid ongoing discussions at the 2025 Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable, part of the World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings. This push for expediency comes as the country strives to stabilize its economy and improve its financial landscape. Recent Developments in Ethiopia’s Debt Restructuring Ethiopia’s Finance Minister Ahmed Shide noted that the nation reached an initial agreement on restructuring terms with its official creditors in March 2025. This significant development was solidified in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) drafted…
UN and AU Strengthen Collaboration: Recent Meetings Focused on Peace and Security in Africa In recent engagements, the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) have taken significant strides towards enhancing collaborative efforts concerning peace and security in Africa. These engagements underline the importance of mutual cooperation to address pressing regional issues, especially in Sudan and South Sudan. High-Level Meetings at the AU Headquarters The AU recently hosted members of the UN Security Council at its headquarters in Addis Ababa. This meeting served as a pivotal platform for discussions about peacekeeping initiatives and efforts to resolve conflicts on the…
National Bank of Ethiopia Engages with Global Investors at IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings Addis Ababa, October 16, 2025 – The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) Governor, Eyob Tekalign, participated in a significant policy dialogue with major institutional investors during the 2025 IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings held in Washington, D.C. This event provided a unique platform for discussing the economic and policy landscape of African economies. Engaging with Global Investors The dialogue, organized by Standard Bank Group, brought together prominent investors from Europe, the United States, and Africa. Attendees exchanged insights and perspectives on the economic outlook and investment opportunities across…
Experience at the “Taste of Ethiopia” Festival: An Overview The “Taste of Ethiopia” festival, which aims to celebrate the rich and diverse Ethiopian culture, was expected to be a vibrant gathering of food, music, and traditions. Unfortunately, this year’s event fell short of those expectations, prompting a closer examination of its offerings. A Missed Opportunity: Discrepancies in Festival Expectations One major concern arose from the festival’s promotional materials, which promised an engaging cultural experience filled with performances, demonstrations, and community services. However, attendees were met with a lack of the anticipated activities, leading many to feel misled. The absence of…
Trump adviser Massad Boulos urges a “technical, not political” path to resolve the GERD dispute—marking a quiet shift in Washington’s stance toward Ethiopia and Egypt. The United States has struck a noticeably softer and more pragmatic tone on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), signaling a potential policy reset on one of Africa’s most contentious geopolitical issues. In an interview with Al Arabiya Arabic, U.S. President Donald Trump’s Senior Adviser for African, Arab, and Middle Eastern Affairs, Massad Boulos, said the GERD dispute “must be resolved through technical means, not political pressure.” His remarks represent a sharp departure from the…
From tribal militias to diplomatic handshakes, Asmara’s deepening role in Sudan’s civil war reveals a dangerous new chapter for the Horn of Africa. When Sudanese Prime Minister Kamal Idirs stepped off his plane in Asmara this month, it marked far more than a routine diplomatic visit. For Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, whose government spent much of the past two years quietly arming and training Sudanese factions near their shared border, the meeting symbolized something larger: the normalization of a covert alliance that has been years in the making. Back in 2024, reports from Sudanese and regional observers warned that Eritrea…
The Horn of Africa’s largest economy continues to expand rapidly, yet inflation and conflict have left many Ethiopians struggling to share in that growth. For much of the past two decades, Ethiopia has stood out as one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies. According to the World Bank, GDP has expanded by around 6–7 percent annually in recent years — a pace that few countries, even globally, have matched. Public investment in infrastructure, manufacturing, and services helped drive the boom, creating new industries and modernizing parts of the economy once rooted in subsistence agriculture. But the growth numbers conceal a harder reality.…