Ethiopia Roundup: WTO membership, 4.1m Euros deal, Red Sea

Ethiopia nears WTO membership after key accession meeting

Ethiopia is moving closer to joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO) after the successful conclusion of the 6th Working Party meeting on its accession process, Trade and Regional Integration Minister Kassahun Gofe announced. The minister described the outcome as a historic milestone, noting that it marks a decisive step in Ethiopia’s 23-year effort to secure WTO membership. The meeting approved elements to be compiled into a draft working party report, a critical requirement for accession.

Ethiopia and Italy sign €4.1m deal to boost healthcare

Ethiopia and Italy have signed a €4.1 million agreement to strengthen healthcare services at Shire Hospital in Tigray and Gondar Hospital in Amhara. The deal was signed by Ethiopia’s Finance Minister Ahmed Shide and Italian Ambassador Agostino Palese. Ahmed said the project will help restore essential healthcare for over 15 million people, reaffirming the two countries’ longstanding partnership in resilience, recovery, and development.

Ethiopia hit by hailstorms and floods destroying farmland

Severe weather has devastated parts of Ethiopia, with hailstorms in Tigray and floods and landslides in Amhara destroying thousands of hectares of farmland and leaving tens of thousands of farming households in distress. In Degua Tembien Woreda, Southeast Tigray Zone, a hailstorm on 26 September damaged 143 hectares of cultivated land, completely wiping out crops and affecting 284 households. Local officials said the disaster poses serious risks to food security and livestock survival. Gebrekiristos Aregawi, Chief Administrator of Degua Tembien Woreda, pledged limited local support while appealing for broader government and NGO assistance.

Ethiopia’s army defends Red Sea and Assab claim

The Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) declared that Ethiopia’s claim over the Red Sea and the Port of Assab is non-negotiable, dismissing any opposition as “banditry.” In a statement issued on 27 September, the ENDF described the matter as a long-standing national grievance that has undermined Ethiopia’s sovereignty and geopolitical interests for more than three decades. The army said that the international elevation of the Red Sea question has been met with strong support among Ethiopian soldiers, who expressed readiness to make sacrifices to secure the country’s national interest.

Ethiopia imposes 30% tax on petroleum products

Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance has announced the full implementation of a 30% tax on petroleum products for the 2025/26 fiscal year, comprising a 15% value-added tax and a 15% excise duty. The measure, included in the newly approved citizens’ budget, is part of the government’s Homegrown Economic Reform Agenda aimed at boosting domestic revenue. The tax follows the phased removal of fuel subsidies since mid-2022, which has already raised diesel and gasoline prices by more than 50%.