RESTING PAINS


RESTING PAINS

A road sign around the Bole area is used to hang wet mats after being knocked down during recent rennovations. While traffic accidents showed a positive trend in the first half of the year, decreasing by 532 to 23,280 incidents, here was a 54pc increase in third-party insurance claims due to property damages. The spike in the cost of spare parts for vehicles is partly to blame for the uptake of insurance claims to 689 million Br. Authorities have ramped up penalties on drivers over the past two years to decrease the amount of accidents. Nearly two million drivers were penalised for over nine million traffic violations in the first nine months of the year for close to 1.1 billion Br payments.

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In-Picture

YELLOW SIGNAL

Forget flashy billboards and painted signs. In Mekelle, a single yellow jerrycan resting on a dusty curb does the job just fine. It's the new language of the street—simple, unmistakable, and profitable. The written note tells motorists that petrol is available, but not at the government rate. At 200 Br a litre, the markup is steep, yet demand remains constant. Across Ethiopia's regional cities, this quiet trade fills the gap left by formal distribution channels. What began as a stopgap has bec...


In-Picture

MARKET MOMENTUM

At the Sheraton, delegates from across Africa joined Minister of Revenues Aynalem Nigussie as she cut the ribbon to launch the Africa Export Competitiveness Report 2024. A bright red ribbon sliced across a bold yellow banner, symbolising ambition and renewal. Dressed in an elegant Habesha qemis, Aynalem brought heritage to the moment, bridging tradition and progress. Applause filled the room, a mix of pride and promise marking a confident step forward for Africa's trade future...


In-Picture

SILENT ANCHOR

A student from Addis Abeba University carries the university's logo across his chest, guiding newcomers with quiet authority. The sun does not only shine on him—it radiates from within. His silence speaks volumes, a calm confidence rooted in belonging to something larger. Around him, life moves on: mothers carrying children, curious youngsters exploring, a nonchalant man in sunglasses and a bright blue shirt weaving through the crowd, yet he remains steadfast, a silent anchor amid the bustle...