NEWS: MIDROC signs machinery deal for 1.25m-tonne Metekel gold plant
NEWS: Ethiopia cuts foreign homeownership threshold to USD 100,000 in three regions
NEWS: Ethiopia’s gold export earnings reach USD 5.65bn, up 61%
NEWS: Djibouti faces tighter debt controls amid $5.5bn infrastructure needs
NEWS: Ethiopia allocates Mojo site for Djibouti truck terminal after 25-year delay
NEWS: Ethiopia targets $1bn manufacturing exports after $607m fiscal-year result
NEWS: ESL Reviews Feeder Services and Rerouting as Red Sea Risks Rise
NEWS: Ethiopia Plans Vehicle Ownership Tax for 2027/28 Fiscal Year
NEWS: Ethiopia Clears Zijin’s USD 4bn Allied Gold Acquisition
NEWS: IMF Urges NBE Gold-Market Exit as Reserve Money Jumps 67%
News - Financial

Ethiopia to Levy 5% on All Telecom Airtime and Data Sales for National Disaster Fund

Jan 20, 2026
Ethiopia to Levy 5% on All Telecom Airtime and Data Sales for National Disaster Fund


  1. Starting February 8, 2026, Ethiopia will impose a 5% levy on all mobile airtime and data purchases to fund the National Disaster Fund. 

  2. The directive establishing the levy is dated January 16, 2025 and makes contributions to the disaster fund mandatory

  3. Under the broader framework, banks and microfinance institutions will contribute 1% of the value of loans disbursed to the disaster fund. 

  4. Insurance companies will remit 1% of total premiums collected, while digital banking services will incur an additional 5% surcharge

  5. Other sector levies include 1 Birr per liter on fuel and 100 Birr fixed fee on domestic airline tickets as contributions to the disaster financing scheme.