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PEELING BACK LAYERS


A staple vegetable's price is ringing alarm bells. Onion prices have skyrocketed, with a kilo costing up to 120 Br on certain days. For many Ethiopians, this surge reflects larger economic woes plaguing the economy. Purpose Black, a two-year-old com...

Sep 30 , 2023


Fortune News

Manufactureres Shift to Domestic Market as External Trade Faces Headwinds

A vital shift is on the horizon for Ethiopia's manufacturers, who once thrived on exports braced by the African Growth & Opportunity Act (AGOA). If a bold proposal by Melaku Alebel, minister of In...

Sep 30 , 2023

Fortune News

Ethiopia's Coffee Caps Raise Temperatures Beyond the Kettle

In a move rattling the coffee industry, officials of the Ethiopian Coffee & Tea Authority have imposed a limit on outbound personal coffee carry-ons: two kilograms. This comes on the heels of requ...

Sep 30 , 2023

News Analysis

Hijra Bank Navigates Early Turbulence in Budding Financial Frontier

The nascent Islamic banking sector is facing a steep uphill climb as its newest entrants grapple with substantial first-year operating losses. Among these, Hijra Bank, one of the country's first fully...

Jul 1 , 2023


Latest Updates

Half a Billion Dollar Gold Project Inches From Shovel Ready

The Toronto-based mining multinational Allied Gold Corporation has received board approval for a two...

Sep 30 , 2023


Transport Bureau Shoves Taxi's Out of Student Transport

The Addis Abeba Transport Bureau's recent decision to restrict the number of minibus taxi drivers wh...

Sep 30 , 2023








Agenda

PEELING BACK LAYERS

On a chilly morning outside Ke'Geberew Market, Yeshi Chane, a 35-year-old mother cradling her seven-month-old baby, stands amidst the throng, her anxiety palpable. Only a day earlier, she had heard of onions being sold for a mere 25 Br a kilo, a r...

Sep 30 , 2023


Wheeling and Dealing Amidst Conflicts

Amidst the frosty and foggy crack of dawn, Habtam Kassaun made her way to the Lamberet Bus Terminal located on the outskirts of Addis Abeba. With a jerrycan...

Sep 23 , 2023


Uncertainty Clouds Back-to-School Hypes

The beginning of the school year has become a source of anxiety for parents such as Tsige Bedada, a 39-year-old single mother befuddled on how to pay for items...

Sep 16 , 2023







Editorial

Ethiopia's Precarious Promise for Prosperity

The recent gathering by the leadership - and the rank and file - of the Prosperity Party (PP) in Adama (Nazareth) could be considered an event of a notable stitch. The setting, known for its warm ambience, played the usual and expected host to an int...

Sep 30 , 2023


Seeking Solvency for a Battered Economy in a Sea of Uncertainty

Ethiopia's contemporary political leaders and the policy wonks under their command have been in an unfortunate spotlight. Two weeks ago, Moody's, the global credit-rating agency, downgraded its foreign currency rating for Ethiopia from 'Caa2' to 'Caa3', castin...

Sep 23 , 2023

Where Fiscal Prudence Meets Unbridled Optimism in a High-Stake Debt Saga

The Ethiopian economic narrative oscillates between pockets of resilience and significant challenges. While sectors like services comprising 38pc of the economy and agriculture, nearly 40pc, demonstrated adaptability and moderate growth, underlying vulnerabili...

Sep 16 , 2023







Exclusive Interview

TRADITION TALENT TRANSITION

At the forefront is Jemberu Demeke, a name that echoes local music evolution's rhythmic and lyrical potency. Yididya Wondwossen, fondly known by this artistic pseudonym, bridges the rich musical legacy of his homeland with the modern dynamism of contemporary genres. Jemberu shares with a light-heart...

Sep 9 , 2023


The Untamed Spirit: Living Young, Wild and Free

Q: If we went through your car right now, what three things would we find? Aziz Ahmed: Glass case. Breaking too many eyeglasses is a perennial headache for a traveller. This one holds it tight, so I always carry it around. Another item might be a tyre chang...

Sep 10 , 2023

Audacious Blueprint: Partnership in Tackling Planetary Upheaval Caused by Climate Change

FORTUNE: What outcome do you hope for from the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment? Rose Mwebaza: This particular African Ministerial Conference hopes to examine three critical issues for the African member states. The top priority on the agen...

Aug 19 , 2023







Viewpoint

The Risks of Over-relying on Positive Thinking

The notion of luck and positivity's magnetic pull has echoed throughout the history of humanity. From ancient tales to the infectious rhythms of Bob Marley's "Positive Vibration", the message of collaboration and unity has always been present. However, the surge in belief around specific positive manifestation, notably with Rhonda Byrne's 2006 bestseller "The Secret", suggests a paradigm shift...

Oct 1 , 2023


G20's Diminished Role Signals a Shift in Global Power Dynamics

After India's G20 Summit and the UN General Assembly this month, world leaders will attend the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank meetings in Marrakesh, Morocco, before heading to Dubai's UN Climate Change Conference (COP28). But there is little...

Sep 30 , 2023

Redefining Green Investments Ahead of COP28

As we move from UN Climate Week to COP28 in Dubai later this year, we must stop the "greenwishing" and "greenwashing" and start thinking about the instruments that will enable the private sector and private investors to channel more capital toward climate resi...

Sep 23 , 2023


My Opinion

The Global Shift from Ideology to Identity

As global dynamics evolve, traditional political frameworks seem to gradually step aside, yielding the stage to the increasing clout of identity politics. This transformation is, by no means, region-specific. In his book, "Identity: The Demand for Dignity & the Politics of Resentment," Francis Fukuyama explores the profound role of identity in contemporary politics and its implications for...

Sep 30 , 2023


Protectionism Started the Geopolitical Fire

Seeing many prominent economists decry the Trump Administration's tariffs as welfare-reducing protectionism has been puzzling, while approving of the Biden Administration's even more drastic steps to reshore, friend-shore, and decouple from China. In a Marc...

Sep 23 , 2023

Ethiopia Steers a Delicate Course in Hydro-Diplomacy

The evolving geopolitics of the Nile River Basin, a region with a rich history steeped in cooperation and contention, mirrors Ethiopia's fluid and dynamic history. A tale that began in the Imperial era and continued during the military-Marxist regime - under t...

Sep 16 , 2023






Featured

Evolving Dynamics of Domestic Travels

Fikresilassie Tsegaye, 34, is an architect by profession, who has seen his favourite holiday pastime grow into a lucrative side hustle over the past couple of years. He organises trips to different parts of the country, compelled by the authentic experience during his trip to celebrate Epiphany in Gonder, Amhara Regional State. "I wanted others to feel what I experienced," Fikresilassie told Fortune. What started as a moment of inspiration has now grown to become a frequent escape from...

Sep 23 , 2023


Commentaries

How to Avoid a Debt Crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa

The average debt ratio in sub-Saharan Africa has almost doubled in just a decade - from 30pc of the GDP at the end of 2013 to nearly 60pc by the end of last year. Repaying this debt has also become much costlier. The region's ratio of interest payments to revenue, a key metric to assess debt servicing capacity and predict the risk of a fiscal crisis, has more than doubled since the early 2010s; it is now close to four times the ratio in advanced economies. The International Monetary Fund (IMF...

Sep 30 , 2023


News Analysis

Hijra Bank Navigates Early Turbulence in Budding Financial Frontier

The nascent Islamic banking sector is facing a steep uphill climb as its newest entrants grapple with substantial first-year operating losses. Among these, Hijra Bank, one of the country's first fully-fledged Islamic banks, incurred a loss of 143 million Br in its inaugural year, generating palpable shareholder discontent during its median annual general assembly. A glance at the Bank's balance sheet may portray a concerning forecast. However, Dawit Keno, Hijra's founding president, believes...

Jul 1 , 2023


Delicate Number

194

The resale ticket value, in pounds sterling, for a seat to watch a football match of Liverpool F.C., a Premier League club leading the way by offering the most economical match day ticket at just nine sterling, according to SeatPick. However, resale tickets show an increase of 2,060pc.  

Sep 23 , 2023


Fineline

Leaders of the National . . .

Leaders of the National Election Board are in a charm offensive mood, of a sort. Last week, they organised a rare tour for members of the media, showcasing what polling stations will look like during the upcoming national elections; and they took the...

Oct 3 , 2020


Verbatim

"The ease of doing business reform."

Fitsum Assefa (PhD), minister of Planning & Development, credited reforms to Ethiopia's top place in East Africa for attracting foreign direct investments (FDI). She posted on her Twitter page last week that Ethiopia received 3.4 billion dollars in FDI in the last Ethiopian fiscal year. However, this amount is 811 million dollars lower than the seven-year average.



View From Arada

Lend a Serious Ear to Nature's Call

I went into one of the meat eateries near the Ayat train station to eat breakfast, suddenly realising that I was starving while running an errand. It was a small restaurant but famed for goo...

Sep 30 , 2023




Sunday With Eden

Unyielding Love in Life's Shadows

In a world where resilience and love are often tried and tested, Salem Getachew's (MD) luminous spirit stands as a testament to the enduring power of hope and human connection. Last week, we bid farewell to this radiant 28-year-old medical professional, whose unparalleled commitment to life, even amidst her personal battles, left an indelible mark on many of us fortunate enough to know her. ...

Sep 30 , 2023


Crack in the Dam: Where Healing Begins

I spent most of my last week with the family of my former colleague who passed away recently. Understandably, her untimely passing devastated everyone who knew her but her husband's grief was a raging storm tearing through his heart and soul. She left behi...

Sep 16 , 2023

The Paradox of Birth Tourism

Upon announcing that my my husband and I were expecting our first child, family and friends expressed their concerns about our birth plan. They urged us to have our child in the United States, where my inlaws reside. Their concerns were not primarily about...

Sep 10 , 2023


Life Matters

Blurred Lines of Online Presence

It is fascinating to witness the power of technology in bridging the gap between individuals. However, I can not help but wonder if the surge in video journals has led to a saturation of mundane content where the line between meaningful and trivial experiences is blurred. I usually find myself craving content that offers more than a glimpse into the everyday life of someone while scrolling thro...

Sep 30 , 2023


Bait and Switch Strategy

Heading to an unfamiliar destination recently, I ordered service from one of the taxi-hailing companies. I had a chance to discuss several aspects of life matters with the driver including inflation and the rise of rental fees. It was a decent conversation...

Sep 23 , 2023

Challenging the Preconceived Notions

The dilemma between modern and traditional treatment has sparked an ongoing debate for many years. Recent conversations on social media have also prompted the Health Ministry to release a notice last week cautioning people to examine their source of informatio...

Sep 16 , 2023





Radar

BEATIFIC SPARKS

Mesqel Square fills with smoke as thousands gather to mark the eve of the eponymous holiday by lighting ritual bonfires. Followers of the Orthodox Tewahdo Church celebrate the day each year that marks the rediscovery of the "True Cross" in the 4th century. The evening is set against a backdrop of hymns by choirs armed with unique Ethiopian church instruments. Mesqel celebrations take place two wee...

Oct 2 , 2023


ETHEREAL SOLACE

The recently unveiled statue of the late singer  Ali Birra glistens in the foggy weather around the Haile Garment area. Art in all its forms has been intimately weaved into the tapestry of Ethiopian history since the advent of Axumite civilisation. Be it paintings etched into the walls of churches across the country or the endemic pentatonic musical scale, art has provided an escape in times of w...

Oct 2 , 2023

In Picture

Coffee Train

Tomoca Coffee has opened another outlet inside the La Gare Train Station and is converting an old train car into a café. Open in 1917, the train station is one of the attractions of the city. It will now be part of the La Gare Eagle Hills Project. The removal of the historical Buffet De La Gare inside the train station following the start of the construction had led to an outcry...

Mar 14 , 2021


NEW MESQEL SQUARE

A construction crew, equipment and materials still obscure the progress of the Mesqel Square project. Nonetheless, the fencing that once enveloped the construction site has largely been removed, and the crescent-shaped steps have been installed. Costing 2.5 billion Br, the project is one of many that attempt to rehabilitate parks, public spaces and rivers of Addis Abeba...

Feb 13 , 2021




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