FORTUNE+ VIDEO SPONSORED CONTENTS ADVERTORIALS FORTUNE AUDIO Fortune Careers TRADE AFRICA Election 2026 New TIME REMAINING UNTIL ETHIOPIA’S NATIONAL ELECTION 0Days 0Hours 0Minutes 0Seconds

Fortune Logo

"We'll go to the extent of confiscating their money."

Aug 9 , 2025.

Central Bank Governor Mamo Mihretu, in a video briefing last week, warned business owners caught trading in the parallel foreign exchange market, after the value of the Birr spiked to over 170 to a dollar. The Governor blamed illicit currency trade for a 28pc premium on the official rate.


PUBLISHED ON Aug 09,2025 [ VOL 26 , NO 1319]

[ssba-buttons]

Most read

Editor's pick

Commentaries

Europe Needs the Plot, Ethiopia Needs the Price

Ethiopia has built new eyes for its most valuable export. The question is what it wil...

African Lessons for an Indian Airline Going Through Tough Times

The appointment of Tewolde Gebremariam as chief executive officer (CEO) and managing...

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 me...

When the country’s most. . .

When the country's most senior diplomats and envoys return back to their posts after two-week debriefings, they leave behind a point or two...

Editorial

Listen to the Poets Before Bulldozers Narrow Addis Abeba's Memory

Aug 14 , 2026

Aschalew Fetene, known as “Ardi” and admired for his poetic depth, has built a ti...

In Going Digital, the State Designs for the Citizen It Wants to Have

Aug 8 , 2026

The World Bank asks readers to picture a mother in rural Ethiopia who has never held...

The Rains May Fail, Policy Dare Not

Jul 31 , 2026

Weldu Yiheysh has not read the Pacific temperature charts. He does not need to. In Shibta District of Enderta Wereda, in...

Cost Recovery by Public Institutions Becomes a Hidden Tax

Jul 25 , 2026

Ideally, citizens who have paid income tax all year should not have to reach for thei...

Gallery

Parliament Approves New Cabinet Members

Oct 6 , 2021

Parliament Approves New Cabinet, Incorporates Opposition Leaders Lawmakers have approved today the nominations of 22 ministers, including three opposition leaders. Two MPs have voted against, while 12 abstained...

2020 in Posterity

Jan 5 , 2021

TIGRAY VOTES DESPITE "NULL & VOID" THREAT

Sep 9 , 2020

IN-PICTURE: LAUREATE'S RECEPTION  

Dec 14 , 2019

PM Abiy Ahmed (PhD) at a Gala Dinner Called for the Awarding of the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize

May 6 , 2019

Faces, Voices of Addis Abeba

Apr 26 , 2019

Sunday With Eden

The Plate on the Screen Isn't the Plate on the Table

Last week, I listened to Dr Berry Dubiso, a podcast named after an Ethiopian doctor a...

Ten Years at the Gate, a Dream That Never Stood Still

Last Sunday, my family gathered for what was meant to be a simple farewell. There was...

Life Matters

A Body Learns Itself from the Inside

Some experiences resist explanation. One can read volumes, hear them described, or wa...

Children Fall. Some Parents Detonate

As an overprotective mother, I know that sudden and cold knot in the stomach all too...