The framework covers three key areas of cooperation: trade and investment; defense and security cooperation; and regional peace and stability. Officials say they are looking to enhance economic and commercial ties through expanded trade and investment, strengthen security cooperation in support of mutual interests, and advance coordination on regional peace and security issues.

A statement issued by the US Department of State yesterday indicates Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos (PhD) and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed “the US-Ethiopia security partnership and the significant steps taken to advance commercial opportunities between our nations.”

The Ethiopian delegation also included Girma Birru, advisor to the PM, and Redwan Hussein, head of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), who held discussions with their US counterparts, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry.

The statement from Tadesse Werede (Lt. Gen.) was issued after the TPLF-controlled regional council conducted an executive session in the regional cabinet meeting hall in Mekelle under armed protection.

According to information and images released by regional media streams on Friday, TPLF commenced a meeting inside the Interim Administration’s cabinet meeting hall after declaring itself “elected” earlier this week.

The move follows the TPLF’s rejection of the federal government’s decision to extend the TIA’s mandate for one year to ensure regional stability.

The TPLF leadership opposed this renewal, instead reinstating its pre-war regional council and nominating Debretsion as the regional president, maintaining that the pre-war council holds legitimacy based on previous regional elections, which were held nearly six years ago.

In a social media post on May 8, 2026, President Tadesse Worede described the TPLF’s entry into the cabinet hall as a “destructive movement and the start of a dangerous chapter for the region.”

“I want to express that the body itself, which is attempting to seize the administration’s power by force, is responsible for all-encompassing destruction and danger that befalls our people following this illegal act,” stated Tadesse.

The President noted that the group [Debretsion led TPLF] ignored prior calls to desist and instead utilized armed protection to occupy government infrastructure.

“The body [TPLF] that recently declared itself elected released information and images today showing it has started a cabinet meeting inside the Tigray Interim Administration cabinet meeting hall,” Tadesse’s post read.

The current situation creates a dual-administration claim in Mekelle.

While the federal government previously justified the TIA extension as a measure to facilitate the transition toward permanent elections, observers warn the move to reinstate the former council risks undoing the fragile peace that ended the two year’s war in the region.

In contrast to the Interim Administration’s stance, Sebhat Gebreegziabher, a former member of Tigray’s pre-war regional council currently working with an aid organization near the Ethiopia-Eritrea border, challenged the legality of the federal mandate extension.

He argued that because the TIA resulted from an agreement between two negotiating parties—the TPLF and the federal government—any extension required a bilateral decision at the negotiating table rather than a unilateral decree from Addis Ababa.

He framed the current standoff as a result of the federal government attempting to force subservience rather than addressing the legal and democratic questions raised by the regional council.

Music composer Kamuzu Kassa and a group of over 30 artists are at loggerheads over unpaid performance fees related to an Ethiopian cultural performance tour in BRICS countries. The artists who were part of the Kin Ethiopia tour have accused Kamuzu and his production company, Shakura, of failing to pay them for their work.

The tour featured around a dozen cultural performances overseas, including in China, Russia, and other BRICS countries, as well as several domestic dates. It was organized and led by the Ministry of Culture and Sport and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, alongside Kamuzu and his production company.

The tour got underway last year as part of a ‘United Culture Forum’ in which performers from 60 countries have participated,  according to statements from the Ministry of Culture. The Ministry, which has reportedly budgeted hundreds of millions of Birr for the tours, has previously stated that Ethiopia is “lucky” to be part of such a global platform.

As part of the preparations, more than 30 artists and performers entered into contracts with Kamuzu Kassa and Shakura Production, which was hired by the Ministry to organize the performances.

According to its website, Shakura works on audio recording and mixing, music composition and arrangement, and sound design for film and media. It was established in 2006 and is led by Kamuzu Kassa.

The artists have since accused Shakura of refusing to compensate them for their work in full after receiving payment from the Ministry and despite the successful execution of 11 performances. Under an agreement with the event organizer, Shakura Production, the artists were to be paid 217,500 Birr per individual for every four stages performed.

The artists report they notified the Ministry, which confirmed that Shakura and Kamuzu had received the budget. A letter from the Ministry addressed to the production company three months ago acknowledges Shakura’s failure to effect payment.

“The Ministry did not enter into an agreement directly with the cultural and artistic team, but the Ministry entered into an agreement with Shakura Production. Therefore, we urge Shakura Production to answer the demands of the performers,” reads the letter.

Nonetheless, a group of 37 performers say they were forced to take the case to court after their appeals failed to yield results.

The total claim brought forward has been solidified at nearly 31 million Birr. This comprehensive figure includes the accumulated professional fees for the international and domestic tours, damages, and four months of unpaid daily rehearsal allowances. The artists contend that these daily payments were essential for their survival during the intensive preparation phases, yet they remain entirely outstanding.

“We have waited for a year and two months without payment. During all this time, we performed to live up to our oath to the honor of our nation. We received this duty from the Speaker of Parliament and we kept our word. But we can no longer wait for payment. All artists in this group have dedicated themselves to this project and abandoned other jobs in the process, sacrificing other opportunities for the success of this project,” reads the lawsuit filed by the artists.

They claim Kamuzu has repeatedly put off their requests for payment using “flimsy excuses.”

Judges at the Federal High Court have since ordered a 20-day injunction on bank accounts belonging to Shakura and Kamuzu.

A number of commercial banks, including CBE, Abyssinia, Cooperative Bank of Oromia, and Awash, have been notified of the injunction. The court has also ordered a freeze on assets belonging to Kamuzu Kassa.

“We were the faces of Ethiopia rising on the global stage, yet we returned home to empty accounts,” one of the artists told The Reporter. “For months, we were told to be patient. Shakura claimed they hadn’t received the full budget from the Ministry of Culture and Sport.”

​The artists report that while some members received a minor partial payment of 50,000 Birr, the bulk of the 30.8 million Birr remains unpaid.

​Shakura Production Responds

In an exclusive interview, Shakura Production head Kamuzu Kassa denied allegations of a total breach of contract.

“We are paying according to the agreement,” Kamuzu stated. While acknowledging a portion of payment is still remaining, he maintained that the company has already disbursed significant funds.

​Kamuzu emphasized that the project was a collaborative effort with the Ministry, stating, “We provided these artists with work and we will fulfill the payment according to the terms of the agreement.” He declined, however, to specify the exact figures already paid out to the 37 individuals.

The case highlights a growing tension between private producers and the government entities that commission them. While the Ministry of Culture and Sport has previously intervened via written correspondence, they remained unavailable for comment at the time of publication, failing to respond to inquiries regarding the status of the Kin Ethiopia budget.

​As the 20-day freezing order expires and the formal lawsuit moves forward, the 37 artists of Kin-Ethiopia cultural group remain steadfast. For them, the battle is no longer about the applause of an international audience, but the fundamental right to the 30.8 million Birr in wages and allowances earned while representing their country.

The Rights Commission presented its assessment of the proceedings ahead of the June 1 vote to election and security officials on Thursday. The Commission deployed 55 teams to 1,007 polling stations in highly contested constituencies and those that have seen the most complaints from political parties, voters, and candidates.

The assessment, which did not cover Tigray, uncovered a number of glaring issues that sparked debate and contention from the meeting’s participants, which included NEBE officials, regional security heads, police chiefs, and representatives of the Political Parties Joint Council.

Among the concerning findings was the establishments in police stations, inside military camps, and alongside liquor stores.

“Some polling stations are in areas prohibited by law. In some areas, more than one polling station is duplicated. Some polling stations are located where they cannot be seen clearly,” said Mekdes Amenu, civil and political rights director at EHRC, who presented the findings.

Election officials argued that some polling stations are sited in police barracks, not police stations. They also stated stations located in and around military camps are legal, and are intended for the use of voters in the ENDF.

As for the liquor store accusations, officials said they were taking measures.

The Commission also found that the location of some polling stations does not match with GPS data provided by the Board, citing such cases in Ambo, West Shewa. Election officials said GPS coordinates are only available for around half of the 49,000 polling stations set to host voters in a few weeks.

The major bone of contention during the meeting, however, was alleged interference from security  and government officials, and members of the ruling party, in election preparations.

“Security forces and members must refrain from involvement in the election process. Government officials must refrain from interfering in the election process,” the Commission recommended based on its findings, though it declined to specify instances of interference.

“We recommended security officials and government officials should refrain from interfering in the election process. But this does not mean they are interfering now. For instance, when the ruling party rallies, some police members might join. That is human nature and individual incidents. We do not include such individual incidents in this report. For instance, in some cases, security officers also might proceed to detain some individuals. At such points, we interfere, explain the issue and tell them to release them. Such issues happen due to lack of awareness,” said Berhanu Adello, EHRC chief. “In general, we are not hiding any findings. There is nothing we hide from the public in fear of anyone. We are not secretive. We will give all evidence of this finding to NEBE, but not to political parties.”

The Commission did, however, note gaps in the equal treatment of political parties, citing opposition party complaints about a lack of resources and access to constituents.

“For instance, EPRP [Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party] was denied rallies and campaigns in Addis Ababa. EPRP also planned to conduct rallies in 10 other cities and towns, but was denied,” read documents from the presentation.

The Commission notes that the Ethiopian Social Democratic Party’s plans for rallies in Dawro Zone met a similar fate, and so did campaign efforts from the Benishangul People’s Freedom Movement, the Freedom and Equality Party, and ONLF.

Opposition parties also say they are being denied their right to use public spaces.

On the other hand, the report found that the citizens were pushed to join rallies organized by the ruling Prosperity Party in places like Mizan Tepi. 

Election officials say they have facilitated the opposition’s access to public spaces, and attempted to pin the complaints on regional administrations.

The report also noted shortcomings in the participation of civil society organizations (CSOs), 169 of which have been accredited by NEBE to carry out programs on awareness, literacy, and access to information.

“CSOs reported they are unable to conduct election education and civic literacy activities owing to a lack of funding,” said Berhanu, noting the troubles are linked to foreign funding cuts.

The Commission noted that media involvement in the lead up to elections has been limited.

Response from Security Agencies

The heads of several regional peace and security bureaus, police commanders and commissioners, and other senior security officials were present during the discussions on EHRC’s findings.

Kasaye Gemechu of the Oromia peace and security bureau, said there have been “no major problems.”

“We are working hard and making every effort to make sure the election will take place without security problems. We are protecting and facilitating election kits and materials to arrive safely. Citizens have registered freely without fear. We conducted election preparations successfully. On election day, we are working to ensure the vote takes place without security problems,” said Kasaye. “We are also working to make sure all security forces equally serve all parties. We are making sure security forces in Oromia are neutral. So far, there is no major problem.”

Kasaye stated that over 25 million voters registered in Oromia. This figure is half of the over 50 million total voters registered, as per the report.

Zerihun Duguma, from the Oromia Police Commission, had another take.

“Oromia is vast. There are insurgents who are working to make obstacles so that the election does not take place successfully. A command post is working hard to counter these peace forces. There are also social media actors trying to obstruct the election; we are handling them cautiously,” said Zerihun.

EHRC monitoring covered almost all of Oromia, except some parts of Wollega.

Other security officials, including from Addis Ababa, also stated the pre-election process is proceeding peacefully.

“The entire government and the Prosperity Party is working to ensure a peaceful and democratic election,” said Meles Alemu, an executive member of the incumbent and member of the Political Parties Council. “We are ready to act on all the gaps mentioned in the EHRC monitoring findings. All stakeholders must discharge their roles to make the election successful.”

If ratified by Parliament, the proclamation would bar an insurer holding a standard insurance business license from engaging in business as a reinsurance provider. Similarly, an insurer would require a separate license to offer Takaful insurance services.

Under the terms of the draft, these licenses would be granted by the Ethiopian Insurance Regulatory Authority, which is slated to take over as industry regulator from the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE).

The NBE has regulated the nascent insurance industry for three decades, alongside banks, microfinance institutions, reinsurance, and lease financing. Insurers have long argued the NBE’s focus on banking growth has stifled their own.

The authority proposed in the amendment will be led by a seven-member board, which will include representatives from the NBE and Ethiopian Capital Market Authority, and will be responsible for issuing licenses and enforcing compliance.

The draft also proposes to open the insurance industry to foreign investment, following up on liberalization under the Banking Business Proclamation of early 2025. If approved, foreign insurers will be able to establish a partially or fully owned subsidiary in Ethiopia, as well as acquire shares in existing Ethiopian insurers.

The draft limits “strategic” foreign investors to 40 percent of an insurer’s subscribed shares, while “non-strategic” foreign nationals can own up to 10 percent of shares.

Foreign nationals and foreign-owned Ethiopian organizations fully owned by foreign nationals shall invest in an insurer only through foreign direct investment in foreign currency.

The Authority may, on the application of a foreign reinsurer, grant a license for the establishment by the foreign reinsurer of a representative office in Ethiopia, according to the draft.

It also features several provisions related to mergers and acquisitions in the insurance industry, including one granting the Authority the power to step in and enforce a statutory merger to “rescue problem insurers and/or to create a more viable and stronger insurer.”

Abdulmenan Mohamed (PhD), a seasoned financial analyst and keen observer of the Ethiopian financial sector, observes the draft has several shortcomings.

“The separation of the insurance licensing categories could attract more investors to the industry. But since the Ethiopian insurance industry is nascent and small, it is not clear on what logical basis the establishment of a new regulatory authority is necessitated. The new bill is vast and incorporates a lot of provisions from around the world. Establishing such a huge regulatory institution might be too much for such a small industry,” said Abdulmenan.

He questions the financial implications involved in setting up the new regulator.

“Where will the funding come from to finance the authority’s huge responsibilities? It needs new offices, new officers, vehicles, and operational capital. Licensing fees and other revenue streams will be insufficient to cover the expenditures,” said the analyst.

He urges regulators at the NBE to focus on developing more efficient regulatory mechanisms rather than attempting to set up an outsized regulatory institution.

“The bill has too many provisions. Existing insurers will need to acquire new licenses under new categories. This will be difficult for them,” said Abdulmenan.

On the other hand, Ethiopian insurers have long been calling for an autonomous regulator. Many in the industry believe that an independent regulator would allow it to receive the attention and support it needs for growth, help attract international investment, and advocate more actively on its behalf.

“An independent regulatory agency that will focus on insurance is vital. So far, our operations, activities, and concerns are relegated to second place because the NBE appears to prioritize the banking sector,” Hibret Insurance CEO Meseret Bezabih told The Reporter last year.

The coalition, which is accredited by the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), deployed 522 long-term observers to nearly 4,400 voter registration centers across all regional states and city administrations, with the exception of Tigray. This included 443 stations where registration was conducted electronically.

CECOE reports most stations complied with legal requirements regarding location. The report notes that while 97 percent of registration centers were established in legally authorized sites, the remainder operated from prohibited locations, including military camps, police facilities, religious institutions, health centers, bars, hotels, political party offices and private residences.

The coalition also reported repeated interruptions in the voter registration process. A third of manual registration centers and more than a quarter of digital centers experienced at least one interruption during the registration period, according to CECOE.

The coalition identified accessibility as one of the most significant shortcomings of the registration process. Only 12 percent of manual registration stations and 23 percent of tablet-based stations were independently accessible to people with disabilities, according to the findings. Similarly, only 11 percent of manual centers and 20 percent of digital centers were accessible to elderly people, pregnant women, and parents carrying infants.

Despite those shortcomings, the coalition said most registration centers were considered reasonably accessible and secure for women. About 90 percent of both manual and tablet-based registration stations were found to be suitable for female voters in terms of distance from residential areas and security conditions.

The report also documented a series of violent incidents targeting election officials and personnel during the registration period.

CECOE recorded one killing of an election official in East Gojjam Zone of the Amhara region, as well as two attempted killings in Awi and Wag Himra zones. The coalition also documented seven abductions in parts of Amhara, Oromia and South Ethiopia regions, one physical assault in Sidama region, and six intimidation incidents across several zones.

Although the incidents represented a small fraction of observed sites, the coalition warned that violence and intimidation remained a serious concern for the integrity of the electoral process.

The report also pointed to weak political party and civil society participation in the monitoring process.

Political party representatives were present at only 14 percent of both manual and tablet-based registration stations observed by CECOE. Independent civil society observers, excluding CECOE’s own monitors, were present at just 8 percent of manual registration centers and 12 percent of tablet-based stations.

The coalition further reported procedural irregularities at some registration centers, including the registration of voters without identity verification, the registration of individuals who were not physically present, and the presence of unauthorized individuals inside registration sites.

CECOE urged election officials to urgently strengthen the infrastructure of the digital registration system to address repeated technical failures. It also called on NEBE to take legal action against violations of voter registration procedures and to ensure that polling stations established for election day are accessible to people with disabilities and voters with limited mobility.

The coalition recommended that security forces provide stronger protection for election officials, voters and observers, while regional governments were urged to ensure that polling stations comply with legal standards and provide adequate shelter from sun and rain.

CECOE also called on political parties and civil society organizations to deploy more party agents and observers on election day to improve transparency, inclusiveness and accountability in the electoral process.

A a statement issued today by TPLF, which was struck off the federal political party register in early 2025, announces DebretsionGebremichael (PhD) will assume leadership of the regional administration as president, while KirosHagos and MihretBerhe will serve as speaker and deputy speaker, respectively, of the regional council.

TPLF initially announced its unilateral decision to reinstate the regional council last month, less than two weeks after the federal government announced its decision to extend the mandate of the TIA, led by Lt. General TadesseWerede, by one year.

The TIA was established following the signing of the Pretoria Agreement in late 2022, following two years of fighting between the federal government and forces loyal to the TPLF. Observers warn that without dialogue, the latest crisis of leadership in Tigray could spiral into yet another conflict.

The federal government has yet to make an official response. Speaking to local media last week, Tadesse said he has “no intention of leaving Mekelle.”

“The people of Ethiopia and Sudan share a historic and enduring bond of friendship. In recognition of the fraternal ties between the two nations, the Government of Ethiopia has exercised restraint and refrained from publicizing the grave violations of Ethiopia’s territorial integrity and national security committed by some belligerents in the Sudanese civil war. These violations include, among others. the extensive use of TPLF mercenaries in the conflict,” reads the statement.

“The Sudanese armed forces have also provided arms and financial support to these mercenaries, thereby facilitating their incursions along Ethiopia’s western frontier. The activities of TPLF mercenaries in Sudan are a matter of public record, and there is simple and credible evidence showing that Sudan is serving as a hub of various anti-Ethiopian forces. It is evident that these hostile actions, as well as the recent and earlier series of allegations by officials of Sudanese Armed Forces, are undertaken at the behest of external patrons seeking to advance their own nefarious agenda,” it continues.

Late Monday night, the Sudanese Foreign Minister and military spokesperson held a press conference where they stated they had “conclusive evidence” that drone attacks on Khartoum International Airport and several Sudanese military sites earlier in the day were launched from Bahir Dar.

The Sudanese Foreign Minister said his country is “ready to enter into an open confrontation with Ethiopia.” The Sudanese government has since recalled its ambassador to Ethiopia.

Last month marked three years since civil war erupted in Sudan, with fighting between the SAF and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) killing at least 150,000 people, displacing over 14 million, and leaving millions more in the grip of famine and disease.

Experts at the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) have finalized a draft proclamation that proposes to relieve the central bank of its mandate to regulate the insurance industry, instead granting it to the soon-to-be Ethiopian Insurance Regulatory Authority.

The draft Insurance Business Proclamation promises to address long-standing calls for autonomous regulation from insurers, and marks the industry as next for liberalization as part of ongoing economic reforms. 

The NBE has regulated the nascent insurance industry for three decades, alongside banks, microfinance institutions, reinsurance, and lease financing. Insurers have long argued the NBE’s focus on banking growth has stifled their own.

The authority proposed in the amendment will be led by a seven-member board, which will include representatives from the NBE and Ethiopian Capital Market Authority, and will be responsible for issuing licenses and enforcing compliance.

The draft also proposes to open the insurance industry to foreign investment, following up on liberalization under the Banking Business Proclamation of early 2025. If approved, foreign insurers will be able to establish a partially or fully owned subsidiary in Ethiopia, as well as acquire shares in existing Ethiopian insurers. 

The draft limits “strategic” foreign investors to 40 percent of an insurer’s subscribed shares, while “non-strategic” foreign nationals can own up to 10 percent of shares. 

The fourth Made in Ethiopia Expo opened on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at the Addis International Convention Center, where the PM outlined his government’s efforts to reduce reliance on foreign goods through an aggressive push for domestic production. He claimed the efforts have saved over USD 3.5 billion a year over the past four years.

Official data indicates Ethiopia’s total annual import bill has hovered near USD 17 billion for the past several years, with fuel, fertilizer, machinery, electronics, and vehicles often listed as the largest spending categories. On the other hand, last year’s reported export revenue of USD 8.3 billion is Ethiopia’s highest ever, meaning the annual trade deficit is typically well over USD 10 billion.

Manufacturing’s share of exports remains minimal. In November 2025, Minister of Industry Melaku Alebel told lawmakers that the sector managed just USD 97 million in exports over the first quarter of the fiscal year despite accessing substantially more forex from banks for the import of machinery, inputs, and spare parts.

During his speech, the PM also said that close to 1,000 factories that had previously been shuttered have resumed operations during the period.