The defendants, which include well-known public figures and social media influencers, stand accused of causing substantial financial harm by allegedly disseminating false information and exploiting public trust through social media platforms and digital communication tools.

Prosecutors claim the suspects used online platforms and computer-based systems to mislead victims into a fraudulent vehicle import scheme, resulting in significant financial losses.

During the proceedings, prosecutors stated they did not object to bail for most of the defendants, with the exception of the fifth defendant, Mensur Jemal. However, citing the magnitude of the alleged fraud, prosecutors requested the court to impose strict bail conditions, including high financial guarantees and a ban on international travel. Prosecutors also argued that several of the suspects frequently travel abroad for work and could pose a flight risk.

Although the court had previously recognized the defendants’ right to bail during a hearing held on April 6, 2026 it deferred its decision regarding the specific bail amounts, travel restrictions, and the prosecution’s written objection to bail for Mensur Jemal until May 11, 2026.

Following a closed-door hearing held today, the court has set a 400,000 Birr bail for four of the defendants including Serawit Fikre, Yigerem Dejene, Solomon Bogale, and Daniel Tegen. The sixth and seventh defendants, Khalid Nasir and Abraham Gizaw, were each granted bail in the amount of 500,000 Birr.

Defense attorney Abebaw Abebe told The Reporter that the fifth defendant, Mensur Jemal, is facing four separate charges brought by prosecutors.

The lawyer further noted that, despite being released on bail, all defendants remain prohibited from leaving the country.

The court proceedings were conducted behind closed doors, without the presence of family members and media representatives.

Meanwhile, Yosiyad Abeje, head prosecutor for organized and cross-border crime, told The Reporter that the court had reviewed the prosecution’s written objection to granting bail for Mensur Jemal and is expected to issue a separate ruling later this afternoon.

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.

His appointment represents a significant transition in industry leadership, as he becomes the first Ethiopian executive to head a major brewery in a sector traditionally led by expatriates.

Matiyas first joined Dashen as Chief Financial Officer in 2020. Last year, he was named acting CEO following the departure of Mario Van Geldern, who led the brewery for five years before leaving in late 2025.

A statement issued by the company notes Matiyas was elevated to permanent CEO for his strong leadership and achievements in the CFO role amid “challenging macroeconomic conditions.”

Matiyas holds a bachelor’s degree from Addis Ababa University’s Commercial College and is a chartered certified accountant (ACCA). He also holds a master’s degree from Heriot-Watt University. His diverse international background includes leadership roles at SABMiller, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, and Diageo.

Industry observers note that this appointment marks an important advance for Ethiopian leadership in the sector. Notably, other major players such as Coca-Cola and Unilever have also recently appointed local CEOs, underscoring a broader trend toward local leadership in multinational corporations.

“Matiyas’s appointment reflects growing confidence in Ethiopia’s ability to nurture and empower homegrown executives to lead large-scale consumer businesses,” said one industry analyst.

Dashen Breweries was founded in 2000 by Tiret Corporate, an endowment linked to the Amhara Regional State. It opened its first brewery in Gonder, before establishing a second in Debre Birhan in 2011. Since 2012, Duet Group, a UK investment firm, has held a majority stake in Dashen Breweries.

At a joint briefing held today at the French Embassy in Addis Ababa, the ambassadors of France and Kenyan Ambassador outlined the summit’s agenda. French Ambassador Alexis Lamek indicated that restitution, global governance, and reform of international institutions to strengthen African representation will be at the core of discussions.

On the sensitive issue of restitution, Lameke noted the establishment of historian committees in Rwanda, Senegal, and Cameroon to address memorial questions and advance reconciliation. He recalled France’s past efforts:

“Whenever we’ve been requested by African authorities as was the case with Benin, Senegal, and recently Madagascar or Côte d’Ivoire we have put in place mechanisms that allow for the restitution of artifacts.”

Restitution and reparations have been central to the African Union’s agenda, with 2025 designated as the year of advancing cultural artifact restitution as part of a broader reparatory justice framework.

Lameke highlighted France’s support for UN Security Council reform, including the attribution of two permanent seats for African countries and an increase in elected African members. Hosting this summit in an English-speaking country, he said, reflects “a significant evolution in France’s approach toward Africa.”

Recalling France’s G7 presidency, he stressed that the summit embodies a partnership of equals, built on shared interests and tangible results.

Kenya’s ambassador to Ethiopia, Galma Boru, described the summit as a milestone in Africa–France relations, signaling a shift toward innovation, investment, and implementation-driven cooperation.

According to the ambassadors the summit will focus tackling global challenges including, climate change, technological disruption, food security, and economic reform, with priorities including energy transition, financial reform, digital innovation, sustainable agriculture, and stronger health systems.

Opening the event, Ahmed Shide, minister of Finance, said climate action is central to the country’s development agenda. He described the forum as a key platform for South-South learning, while stressing that current financing falls far short of what is needed. Priority areas include climate-resilient agriculture, water security, renewable energy, sustainable land management, and resilient urban systems.

The opening also marked the launch of the Climate Investment Funds’ (CIF) Accelerating Resilience Investments and Innovations for Sustainable Economies (ARISE) program. The initiative will provide up to USD 40 million per country or 50 million for regional programs, with applications open until June 8, 2026.

According to Tariye Gbadegesin, CEO of the Climate Investment Funds, ARISE aims to mobilize public and private finance and embed resilience into national development strategies. Since 2008, CIF has invested over one billion dollars in resilience programs across more than 30 countries.

Gbadegesin warned that climate shocks are threatening billions of livelihoods and emphasized the need to scale up investment to protect economies and communities.

Alex Mubiru, director-general for East Africa at the African Development Bank Group, noted that Africa remains the most vulnerable yet underfunded region. He highlighted over USD 1.1 billion in CIF-backed projects across 28 African countries, leveraging around USD 10 billion in co-financing, and pointed to Ethiopia’s hosting of COP32 in 2027 as a key moment for the continent.

Dawit Alemu, project manager at the Ministry of Industry, told The Reporter that climate investments are already yielding results.

He noted that combined CIF and multilateral development bank investments have provided USD 32 million for “Nature and People” programs, with a strong multiplier effect generating USD 12 for every dollar invested.

Ethiopia is also among the top candidate countries competing for a USD 250 million CIF funding window, with only a few countries remaining in the final selection stage.

He said industrial decarbonization is advancing, with factories shifting from diesel and coal to electric systems, supported by Ethiopia’s renewable energy capacity. Circular economy efforts are also expanding, with up to 20 percent of steel inputs sourced from recycled scrap and around 30 percent of plastic waste reused.

On e-mobility, he noted that over 111,000 electric vehicles are now in use, mainly in Addis Ababa, with more than ten assembly plants operating across industrial hubs such as Debre Berhan, Dukem, and Bole Lemi. Green logistics are also improving, with the Addis Ababa–Djibouti railway serving as a carbon-free transport corridor.

As Ethiopia prepares to host COP32, officials say scaling up finance and private sector engagement will be key to turning commitments into impact.

Ethiopian Ambassador to South Korea Dessie Dalkie Dukamo made the remarks in an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday, saying that Korea’s technological prowess and industrial development experience can play a key role in supporting Ethiopia’s efforts toward sustainable growth.

“We encourage responsible Korean private investment in agro-processing and green technologies so as to further improve localization and sustainability,” he said. “We are grateful that Ethiopia remains a priority country for Korean official development assistance,” the ambassador added.

Dukamo also cast South Korea as an important partner for Ethiopia’s wider national modernization effort to upgrade the country into a regional and international hub.

The new Bishoftu International Airport project in Addis Ababa is one of those programs where Korea’s track record in urban development and infrastructure can come into play, he said.

We see several areas where Korean cooperation can contribute significantly, such as smart city planning, digital governance and integrated transport systems,” Dukamo said.

He expressed hope that cooperation will expand to training Ethiopian workers through partnerships with Korean institutions.

“Our objective is to ensure that infrastructure is not just impressive in scale, but also inclusive, creating jobs, transferring technology and improving daily life for citizens,” he said.

On concerns over supply chain disruptions sparked by tensions in the Middle East, Dukamo stressed countries should diversify their supply sources and work together to keep trade routes “open” and “predictable.”

“Ethiopia advocates for diversification, open and predictable trade routes, and investments that better connect Africa to global markets,” he said.

Joining the BRICS forum in 2024 — a regional grouping consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and others — reflects part of Ethiopia’s efforts to support cooperative solutions that reduce volatility in energy and food markets, Dukamo noted.

“It was a strategic choice to engage more actively in shaping a changing global order,” he said. “We wish to contribute to a more balanced, multipolar international system while maintaining good relations with all our partners.”

The Board said 50,514,155 voters had been registered, including more than 45.1 million through manual processes and the remainder digitally. The figures were presented by the chairwoman, Melatwork Hailu, during a briefing that outlined voter demographics, logistics, financing and operational challenges. 

The voter roll includes over 27.3 million men and more than 23.1 million women, according to the Board. Voters registration window closed as of today, Board disclosed. 

Election preparations are underway nationwide, with 195,316 personnel deployed. About 70,000 election workers have so far been paid a combined one billion birr, officials said.

NEBE reported that 48,829 polling stations have been established across the country, including 46,352 main stations, 1,500 sub-stations and 2,477 additional sites. A total of 614 constituencies are expected to take part in the vote.

Despite the scale of the preparations, the Board believes the 10 billion birr allocated by the government for the election is insufficient “under current operational conditions” and that it had formally requested additional funding. A response is pending.

The Board also said it had distributed 81 million birr to 36 political parties to support their participation.

On media access, NEBE said 37 outlets had been accredited to cover the election and that 1,131 journalists had received credentials. In addition, 169 civil society organizations have been registered as observers. International monitoring missions from the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development are expected to observe the vote.

Officials acknowledged disruptions in parts of Oromia, Amhara, Harar and Sidama regions, where some polling sites have been closed over allegations of illegal voter registration. Nationwide, 22 polling stations have been shut down because of irregularities, the board said.

In the Tigray region, NEBE said it was still seeking conditions to conduct voting but currently had no operational communication with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, which it said had been disqualified from participation.

As part of its outreach efforts, the Board said it had organized seven political party debates to encourage public engagement.

The election, Ethiopia’s seventh national vote, is scheduled to take place in 39 days, marking what officials described as the final phase of preparations.

The announcement comes during the April 23–25 exhibition at the Addis Ababa
International Convention Center, where more than 20 Italian companies are showcasing
their operations within the Italian Pavilion alongside international and local exhibitors.

The initiative forms part of Italy’s broader economic engagement with Ethiopia, where
total Italian investment has reached approximately 830 million euros.

Italy designated Ethiopia as a priority country under the Mattei Plan, a framework aimed
at strengthening cooperation with African countries through development projects and
economic partnerships.

The 25 million euro commitment targets employment generation and supports Ethiopia’s
development goals through investments across sectors including construction,
infrastructure, manufacturing, textiles, agro-processing, and services.
Around 150 Italian companies currently maintain trade and investment ties with
Ethiopian partners.

The Big 5 Construct exhibition provides companies with access to public and private
sector projects and facilitates partnerships with local developers and decision-makers,
as Ethiopia continues market liberalization efforts to attract foreign investment and
position itself as a regional business hub.

Claudio Pasqualucci, trade commissioner at the embassy of Italy in Addis Ababa, said
Italian investments have primarily focused on infrastructure, construction, and agro-
industrial sectors, which continue to align with Ethiopia’s development priorities.

He noted that ongoing urban development and infrastructure expansion are creating
opportunities for Italian firms to contribute to projects in the capital and across the
country.

“Ethiopia is carrying out a vast array of economic and fiscal reforms which benefit the
system, for Ethiopian companies, for the Ethiopian economy, and for foreign
companies,” Pasqualucci told The Reporter, pointing to improvements in the business
environment, including reforms that allow foreign investors to repatriate profits and
facilitate international payments.

He added that participation in the exhibition supports efforts to build joint ventures and
strengthen partnerships with Ethiopian companies, particularly in construction and
urban development, as Italian firms seek to expand their presence through collaborative
projects and long-term engagement.