🇪🇹Week of November 2

Ethiopia has revised the measured size of its economy up nearly 60 percent to $201 billion after a GDP rebasing, according to Reuters. The overhaul of the data methodology lifts the country into Africa's top five economies, Bloomberg reported. Business Insider Africa put the new figure at $210.7 billion and said the ranking overtakes Morocco.123

The gain reflects a new base year for the national accounts rather than growth recorded in a single year, earlier coverage of the rebasing stated. The government presented the revision as a basis for long-term planning rather than a change in output.13

Attributed claim: The Habesha, an oppositional outlet, called Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's GDP claim propaganda amid Ethiopia's crisis, disputing the significance of the rebasing. The wire and business accounts reported the revision as a statistical overhaul that moved Ethiopia up the continental ranking.412

China's special envoy to the Horn of Africa held talks with an Ethiopian minister and called for easing tension in the region. The visit came as Ethiopia and China moved to deepen their military and strategic cooperation.12

Ethiopia and China reaffirmed their commitment to an all-weather strategic partnership during the envoy's visit. The two sides pledged deeper military and strategic cooperation.34

Ethiopia is seeking expanded military cooperation with France and China after earlier cooperation with Russia, according to Addis Standard's daily brief. The outlet reported the outreach as a widening of Ethiopia's arms and defense partners.5

Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki met Hu Changchun, China's Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa, at the Denden Guest House in Asmara on 10 April 2026 and called for an expanded Chinese role. The meeting places the same envoy's regional diplomacy in Eritrea as well as Ethiopia.6

Olusegun Obasanjo and other international envoys arrived in Mekelle for talks on the Pretoria Agreement and regional security. Separately, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed condemned what he called blatant Iranian attacks and expressed solidarity with the United Arab Emirates in a second high-level Ethiopia-UAE exchange within a week.78

Abraham Lemma, an Ethiopian-American and former US government contractor, pleaded guilty to spying for Ethiopia, according to accounts of the case. He worked as a Department of State contractor and passed top secret information to Ethiopia over a two-year period.12345

Lemma faces up to 22 years in US prison for the espionage admissions. The case was announced by the US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, which described a State Department contractor who spied for Ethiopia for two years.13

Attributed claim: Coverage of the plea differed in emphasis rather than in the core facts. Outlets described Lemma as an Ethiopian-American, a former US contractor, a Department of State contractor and an Ethiopian national, and pro-government People Daily framed the case around the US revealing how a contractor leaked top secret information to Ethiopia.12345

The plea landed in the same week that Ethiopia's media regulator moved against foreign and independent outlets. The Ethiopian Media Authority lifted bans on seven of nine Deutsche Welle reporters working in Ethiopia while leaving two permanently suspended, and the Committee to Protect Journalists said Ethiopia revoked Addis Standard's licence as part of an escalating crackdown on independent media.67

Ethiopia has unveiled a new GDP calculation that rebases the country's economic growth from the 2019 fiscal year. Under the new base, the economy is valued at 210.7 billion USD.12

A minister said the rebasing will lay the foundation for Ethiopia's long-term development ambitions. The government presented the revision as a basis for planning rather than a change in output.12

On paper, the rebasing lifts the measured size of the economy by 59 percent, to the 210.7 billion USD figure. The 59 percent gain reflects the new base year, not growth recorded in a single year.3

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church confirmed that 60 of its members were killed in attacks on Orthodox Christian communities in Ethiopia's Oromia region, with outlets reporting the toll as at least 60. The attacks struck Orthodox Christian communities and at least one Orthodox Christian village in Oromia; the dead were Orthodox faithful. The church called for stronger protection after the killings.123

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow sent condolences following what the Russian Orthodox Church described as the tragedy in the Arsi Zone of Ethiopia's Oromia region. The killings drew coverage from international broadcasters, Catholic and Christian outlets, and African wire services reporting the church's account of the toll.43

Attributed claim: Borkena, an oppositional outlet, described the Arsi killings as part of escalating violence against the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and asked how many more atrocities against Amhara and Orthodox Christians would follow. Barnabas Aid, also oppositional, reported that militants killed the 60 Christians in Oromia. The motive for the killings remained unclear in the cited accounts.563

Separately, Somaliland officials condemned attacks on Oromo residents in Borama after more than 150 homes were reportedly damaged. Groups of youths vandalized, looted and set fire to homes occupied by Oromo residents, including families.7

Addis Ababa is hosting the 7th WHO Emergency Medical Teams Global Meeting, the first time the gathering has been held in Africa. The meeting opened in the Ethiopian capital, with the World Health Organization's Regional Office for Africa taking part.123

Ethiopia prepared a full-scale health emergency drill ahead of the meeting, which state and pro-government outlets described as a historic event for the country.4

The Adaptation Fund approved nearly $35 million for a UNDP-backed programme to advance locally led climate resilience across the Horn of Africa and Rwanda. The funding covers Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia and Rwanda, with the UN Development Programme as the implementing partner.123

Ethiopian outlets reported the Ethiopian share as $30 million in Green Climate Fund financing for climate resilience, describing it as major support for vulnerable communities. The Reporter Ethiopia tied the money to the Mandera Triangle project, and Addis Standard's brief said Ethiopia secured $30 million.45

Attributed claim: The accounts differ on the figure and the fund. Ethiopian state and pro-government outlets put the total at $30 million from the Green Climate Fund, while the UNDP and the centrist outlets Africa Sustainability Matters and fundsforNGOs News put it at nearly $35 million from the Adaptation Fund for a UNDP programme spanning four countries.45123

The programme is framed as community-led, with the money directed at climate resilience in Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia and Rwanda. The Mandera Triangle project places part of the work in the border area shared by Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia.123

Ethiopia has inaugurated 11 electric-vehicle fast-charging stations across six cities, expanding the national charging network. The Ethiopian Electric Utility put the new sites into service, bringing its network to 14 stations.12

The Ethiopian Electric Utility, Huawei and the China Road and Bridge Corporation will jointly study electric truck charging along the Djibouti trade corridor. The work targets the road link that carries Ethiopian trade to the port in Djibouti.34

The corridor plan is described as a multi-million-dollar EV infrastructure program to electrify the strategic Djibouti trade route. The charging study and the new stations are part of the same rollout of electric transport infrastructure.51