Zegeye had been serving on the commission since its establishment to facilitate national dialogue and foster consensus among Ethiopians on key political and national issues. He was widely regarded for his sharp perspectives on nation-building, governance, and national consensus.

A prominent figure in Ethiopia’s political history, Zegeye also played a significant role during the transition period following the fall of the imperial regime. As Minister of Agriculture at the time, he was involved in the implementation of the landmark “Land to the Tiller” land reform proclamation under the Derg government.

Trained as a lawyer at Addis Ababa University and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Zegeye dedicated decades to public service. Over the course of his career, he held ministerial positions in several government institutions, including the Ministry of Land Reform and Administration, the Ministry of Agriculture and Settlement, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

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.

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. 

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.

A statement issued by the Ministry announces that fuel trucks have begun making their way from Djibouti to Addis Ababa today, while more are expected to follow to regional towns and cities tomorrow. The statement does not specify the volume of fuel being transported into the country

The announcement will come as a relief to truck and public transport drivers, who have spent much of the last several weeks queued up at pumping stations.

The diesel crisis has already had a noticeable impact on food and commodity prices, particularly on fresh produce, while the government raised diesel retail prices by nearly 17 percent to 163.09 Bir per liter earlier this month.

Multiple reports indicate the supply disruptions have also spurred activity in the illict fuel trade, with unlicensed dealers in the capital reportedly offering diesel and gasoline at nearly double the price

Meanwhile, talks between the US and Iran have stalled after eight weeks of fighting, casting serious doubt over the resumption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

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.