Ethiopia’s economic reform negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are in their fourth round, taking place in Washington, D.C., against the backdrop of joint meetings with the World Bank and the IMF. Despite having met three times in the past two years, the discussions have yet to resolve “differences” over economic reforms, which the IMF deems essential for advancing loans. The Ethiopian delegation, including Finance Minister Ahmed Shed, State Minister Eyob Tekalegn (PhD), Central Bank Governor Mamo Mehiretu, and Senior Monetary Policy Advisor Teklewold Atnafu, is facing IMF demands for more flexible and market-determined exchange rates. (In the picture: Ethiopian officials meeting representatives of the Paris Club creditors).

Alvaro Piris Chavarri, the IMF’s mission chief for Ethiopia, said last week that although negotiations continue, the gap between the parties persists. “There are still differences,” Chavarri said at a press briefing, voicing cautious optimism about reaching a consensus. He acknowledged that “discussions are time-consuming” but declined to confirm any specifics about potential financial packages, despite reports of a 3.5 billion dollar loan package. High inflation and severe foreign currency shortages compound Ethiopia’s economic challenges, pressuring the authorities to possibly devalue the Birr. The official exchange rate is notably misaligned with the parallel market, where the Birr trades approximately 50pc weaker against the U.S. dollar, inching to 58 Br late last week. The economic strain led Ethiopia to default on its international debt in December last year, marking it the third African country to do so within three years. The default has heightened the urgency of the ongoing negotiations. Ethiopia has been off the IMF’s funding radar since 2020, after the last lending arrangement of 2.9 billion dollars veered off course in 2021 after a civil war broke out in the north. The country also seeks to consolidate its post-civil war recovery efforts, following a peace agreement signed with the TPLF in Pretoria, South Africa, in November 2022.