Abiy Ahmed Ali

New Capabilities

Presided over the refinery's October 10 inauguration

Ethiopia switched on its first precious metals refinery on October 10, closing a decades-old routine of shipping raw gold to Dubai for processing. The $50 million plant in Addis Ababa's Bole Lemi Special Economic Zone can refine 600 tonnes of precious metals a year, more than 13 times the 44 tonnes of gold Ethiopia itself produced last fiscal year.

Updated 2 hours ago

Force in Play

Leading the federal offensive against the TPLF-led rebel alliance

Ethiopian federal forces entered Mekelle, Tigray's regional capital, on October 4 after the rebel alliance withdrew without a fight. Federal troops patrol the city, but government services are still closed and the allied Tigray Peace Force imposed an overnight curfew on October 7.

Updated 15 hours ago

Force in Play

Leading the federal military offensive against the TPLF

Federal forces hold Mekelle after Tigrayan fighters pulled out of the capital. Eritrean troops have now crossed into northern Ethiopia, and Ethiopian warplanes have struck them, raising the risk of a direct clash between the two countries.

Updated 4 days ago

Force in Play

In power, facing a declared new war in Tigray and coordinated opposition from seven armed groups

Seven Ethiopian armed groups announced a joint coalition on September 20, linking rebel movements from the country's largest regions under one banner. Three days later, Tigrayan leaders declared a new war with the federal government, and fighting has since spread into the neighboring Afar and Amhara regions.

Updated 7 days ago

Built World

Co-developer of the project through state investment arm Ethiopian Investment Holdings

Ethiopia is landlocked, so every litre of imported fuel reaches Addis Ababa by road tanker from Djibouti—a five-day drive. On Thursday, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh, and Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote broke ground on a pipeline that cuts that trip to one day.

Updated Sep 25

Rule Changes

Seeking a second elected term

Ethiopia's entire Tigray region was excluded from Monday's vote. Polls closed at 6 p.m. across the rest of the country at roughly 48,000 stations. Results are expected by June 11.

Updated Jun 1

Money Moves

Leading economic reform agenda while managing multiple internal conflicts

Ethiopia signed $13.1 billion in investment agreements at a two-day forum in Addis Ababa on March 27, 2026 — more than five times the government's $2.4 billion target. Companies from China, Poland, India, Singapore, and Kenya committed capital to renewable energy, manufacturing, real estate, mining, and green ammonia production, making it the largest haul from any of Ethiopia's four investment forums.

Updated May 30

Force in Play

Reframing Ethiopia-Eritrea rift as rooted in Tigray atrocities; facing pushback from exiled allies

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for ending a 20-year standoff with Eritrea. Now he's publicly accusing Eritrean troops of massacring Ethiopian civilians during their joint war against Tigray—a war they fought together as allies.

Updated May 26

Built World

Presided over GERD inauguration, declaring it Ethiopia's 'dawn' and proof of African self-determination

Ethiopia flipped the switch on Africa's largest dam September 9, 2025, without Egypt's blessing. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam holds 74 billion cubic meters of water, enough to double Ethiopia's power output and, Egypt fears, cut freshwater supplies for 107 million Egyptians.

Updated May 19