Ethiopia's Third Shot at Peace Gets a $6.7m Boost


[ssba-buttons]

A 6.7 million dollars to finance the National Rehabilitation Commission (NRC)'s disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration (DDR) program for nearly 370,000 ex-combatants, was pledged by the Japanese government. The financing will be channelled to the design, implementation and monitoring of the DDR program across eight regional states. Shibata Hironori, ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia, signed the agreement last week at the Ministry of Finance headquarters on King George VI St with Tesfalem Yihdego, deputy commissioner of the Commission and Semerta Sewasew, state minister for Finance. Ethiopia's third DDR program follows a 174-million-dollar effort over five years following the conflict with Eritrea. The first one was a 198 million-dollar project following the fall of the Derg regime 32 years ago. The government began efforts to mobilise funds to finance the DDR programs shortly after a cessation of hostilities agreement was signed in November 2022 after one of the bloodiest wars in the country's history. Temesgen Tilahun, the former deputy commissioner at the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC), replaced Teshome Toga last month to head the NRC. The UN Department for Peace-Keeping Operations (DPKO), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Bank have carried out disarmament and demobilisation processes globally, with 73 implementations since their inception in the 1970s.


Radar

Korenti, Agelegel Microfinance Ink EV Financing Deal

Korenti Auto Trading PLC has signed a strategic agreement with Agelegel Microfinance to provide accessible financing options for electric vehicle (EV) buyers. The partnership seeks to ease EV ownership by offering fair pricing and loan packages with affordable rates. The initiative supports Ethiopia's push for clean transport and aligns with national sustainability goals. Korenti's managing director said the move reflects the company's commitment to expanding electric mobility. Customers can now...


Radar

NBE Leads Week-Long Bank Supervision Application Forum

The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) is hosting a week-long Bank Supervision Application (BSA) User Group meeting that began on July 7, 2025. The BSA system, developed by a pan-African consortium of central banks including the NBE, automates supervisory work for financial regulators. NBE will take over the rotating BSA chairmanship in September. Opening the session, Frezer Ayalew, Director of Bank Supervision, stressed the need for modern tools to handle growing regulatory demands amid cyberse...


Radar

Six Fuel Companies Banned, Seven Warned, Authority Noted Illicit Activity

The Ethiopian Petroleum & Energy Authority has taken disciplinary action against 13 fuel distribution companies for illegally trading 2.8 million litres of fuel outside the digital system in the past two months. Six firms face a one-month suspension from the fuel import and trading market, while seven others received final warnings and must rectify their operations within a month. Director General Destawe Mekwanant (PhD) said the companies failed to monitor fuel stations and ensure proper...