Ethiopia plans to introduce new national car plates to fight fraud and boost security
Ethiopia is preparing to introduce a new national plate number system for vehicles to replace the current region-based model.
The Ministry of Transport says the move will help tackle counterfeiting, reduce crime, and stop the misuse of public resources.
The plan was announced during a nine-month performance review held by the ministry.
Officials say the existing system has several problems, including gaps in how license plates are produced, distributed, and monitored.
It has also been criticised for enabling corruption and making it easier for criminals to avoid detection.
The current plate system reflects Ethiopia’s regional divisions, with each state having its own design.
This often reveals a driver’s ethnic identity, something critics say has created security concerns on the road.
The Ministry says the upcoming system will use the letters "ETH" alongside Geez script, one of Ethiopia’s ancient writing systems.
It will also follow international standards and include security features to prevent tampering and allow for easier inspection.
“The new system is designed to reduce the waste of government resources,” officials said, adding that raw materials used for license plates are costly to import.
The change is expected to help the government better manage these materials.
Different types of vehicles will receive different plates. For example, electric cars will have a separate design from those running on fuel, and the plates will also reflect a vehicle’s ownership and purpose.
It’s not yet clear when the new system will come into effect. But the government says the shift is part of a broader effort to modernise the transport sector.
Earlier this year, Ethiopia banned the import of fuel-powered cars in favour of electric vehicles.
