MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Ethiopia’s intelligence chief, Ridwan Hussein, held closed-door talks on Tuesday with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud shortly after arriving in Mogadishu, a day after Somalia said it had terminated all agreements with the United Arab Emirates, Caasimada Online news website reported. The substance of the discussions was not disclosed, but sources said the talks focused on geopolitical tensions in the Horn of Africa. Hussein also delivered a letter from Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to President Hassan Sheikh. Hussein is also expected to meet Somalia’s intelligence chief, Mahad Salad, to discuss security cooperation and broader regional issues. It remains unclear whether Ethiopia is again seeking to broker talks between Somalia and the UAE, possibly at Abu Dhabi’s request.

× Expand In December, the first China-Ethiopia Coffee Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference was held in Zhuzhou, Hunan, China, marking a new era of cooperation between the two nations. One country taking advantage of the rising demand is Ethiopia, which has worked hard to increase coffee exports to China in recent years. The event also saw the launch of a dedicated Ethiopian coffee trading center in Zhuzhou. At the same time, Ethiopian coffee is clearly popular in China, and that popularity goes beyond green coffee exports. Four years later, in 2022, the e-commerce platform Alibaba hosted a livestream event to promote Ethiopian coffee roasters.

Construction has commenced in the town of Bishoftu on what Ethiopia claims will be Africa’s largest airport and the continent's most extensive aviation infrastructure project. CapacityThe new airport is expected to accommodate 270 planes at any given time, with a capacity of 110 million passengers per year. The new airport will handle 60 million passengers annually in the initial phase. Bole International Airport is expected to reach saturation within three years. Bishoftu has four times the capacity of Ethiopia's current main airport, Bole, which can handle up to 25 million passengers annually.

According to the UN report “World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026”, Africa is expected to grow 4.0% in 2026, led by strong performances from Ethiopia and Kenya. East Africa will be the fastest-growing subregion at 5.8%, supported by regional integration and renewable energy. Challenges remain: high debt, food inflation, and global trade tensions.

Staff WriterEthiopian Airlines has officially begun construction on a $12.5 bn airport in Bishoftu, Ethiopia, which is projected to become Africa’s largest when it opens in 2030. The project, situated approximately 45 km southeast of Addis Ababa, will comprise four runways and accommodate parking for 270 aircraft. Abraham Tesfaye, Ethiopian Airlines’ infrastructure development and planning director, told reporters the airline will fund 30% of the project, with lenders financing the remainder. Ethiopian Airlines has expanded its network with six additional routes in 2024/25, alongside growing revenues, underscoring the strategic importance of the new airport. Disclaimer: The content of this article is syndicated or provided to this website from an external third party provider.

Ethiopian Clinical Trial Finds Fluorometholone Ineffective for Postoperative Trachomatous Trichiasisby GOAI Share ToA clinical trial conducted in Ethiopia involving over 2,400 participants examined the effectiveness of a topical anti-inflammatory treatment, fluorometholone, in addressing postoperative trachomatous trichiasis. Researchers led by Dr. John Kempen from Mass Eye and Ear determined that the treatment did not reduce the condition, which is a complication of trachoma. Trachoma remains the leading cause of infectious blindness globally, with Ethiopia being the most affected country in Africa. Trachomatous trichiasis occurs when repeated infections from trachoma lead to scarring on the inner eyelid, causing eyelashes to turn inward and scrape against the eye’s surface. The trial highlights ongoing challenges in managing complications associated with trachoma and underscores the need for further research into effective solutions for impacted populations.

Ethiopian Airlines on Saturday officially started a $12.5 billion construction project for what officials say will be Africa’s biggest airport when completed in 2030 in the Ethiopian town of Bishoftu. “Bishoftu International Airport will be the largest aviation infrastructure project in Africa’s history,” Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali said on X. That is more than four times the capacity of Ethiopia’s current main airport, which will reach its limits on existing traffic in the next two-to-three years, Abiy said. The airline’s Infrastructure Development & Planning Director Abraham Tesfaye told reporters it would fund 30% and lenders would finance the rest. Ethiopian Airlines is Africa’s biggest carrier.

A US federal court in Chicago on Monday began hearing a second damages trial against Boeing over the fatal 2019 crash of an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX aircraft, as a Canadian plaintiff sought compensation for the loss of multiple family members in the tragedy.The case has been filed by Manant Vaidya, whose sister Kosha Vaidya and parents Pannagesh and Hansini Vaidya were among the 157 people killed when Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed in March 2019. Vaidya also lost his brother-in-law and two young nieces in the incident, AP reported.Jury selection in the case is expected to begin on Monday, with opening statements likely on Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday, according to court proceedings.“It is hard to believe that my entire family was wiped out in an instant incident in such a horrific way,” Vaidya said in a statement published on the website of his attorneys at Clifford Law Firm. “I still cry and my wife, Hiral, still cries when we think of the horror of the last moments of our loved ones’ lives.”The Vaidya family, which lived in Canada, was travelling to Kenya, the homeland of Kosha Vaidya, at the time of the crash.Relatives of Vaidya’s brother-in-law and nieces had filed a separate lawsuit against Boeing, which was settled out of court in July 2025.The Ethiopian Airlines crash followed a similar fatal accident involving a Lion Air 737 MAX aircraft in Indonesia in October 2018. Together, the two crashes claimed 346 lives and led to the worldwide grounding of the 737 MAX fleet. Investigations linked both incidents to the aircraft’s Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), a flight-stabilising software.Boeing has acknowledged responsibility for the crashes and issued apologies to the victims’ families.“Boeing is deeply sorry for the losses suffered by the families,” a company spokesperson said, adding that the company is committed to “fully and fairly compensate” the victims and has “accepted legal responsibility for the accidents.”“While we have resolved the vast majority of these claims through settlements, families are also entitled to pursue their claims through damages trials in court, and we respect their right to do so,” the spokesperson said.The trial comes weeks after a US jury in the same Chicago courthouse ordered Boeing to pay $28.45 million in damages to the family of an Indian victim of the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed says construction has begun on what he described as Africa’s biggest airport. In a social media post on Saturday, Ahmed said the airport, named Bishoftu International Airport (BIA), will be built in the town of Bishoftu and completed by 2030. Ahmed explained that the multi airport strategy is aimed at securing Ethiopia’s position as Africa’s leading air transport hub in the future. “Bishoftu International Airport will be the largest aviation infrastructure project in Africa’s history,” he said. Ahmed added that the first phase of the airport is designed to handle 60 million passengers annually, with plans to expand capacity to 110 million passengers per year, placing Ethiopia among the world’s leading aviation hubs.

Ethiopian Airlines on Saturday started construction on the planned Bishoftu International Airport, which officials say will be the biggest airport in Africa once completed. It will serve as the nation’s main international gateway, while Addis Ababa Bole International Airport – currently the country’s largest – will prioritize domestic flights. Phase one of construction at Bishoftu is expected to be completed by 2030, Ethiopian Airlines officials said. At that stage, the facility will be able to accommodate 60 million passengers annually, surpassing Cairo International Airport in Egypt and O. R. Tambo International Airport in South Africa, currently Africa’s busiest airports. Ethiopian Airlines is the largest airline in Africa by passenger volume.

IntroductionPrime Minister Abiy has initiated a vital discussion on the role of intellectuals, one that should not end with his intervention. With a more inclusive and robust framework, one may also propose less vague, more realistic and more incisive recommendations for Ethiopian intellectuals. On the Typology of Ethiopian Intellectuals:The typology of Ethiopian intellectuals presented is again thought-provoking but could be made more systematic. Defining the Intellectual’s Role: The Prime Minister—as already indicated—claims that being an intellectual is primarily about asking questions, not even providing answers. ConclusionThe Prime Minister’s presentation at AAU on the role of intellectuals arrives at a critical juncture for both Africa and Ethiopia.

Ethiopian Airlines Group has announced the official construction commencement of Bishoftu International Airport. Construction began on January 10, 2026, following an official groundbreaking ceremony. © Ethiopian Airlines GroupBIA groundbreaking plaque placementReflecting on the ceremony, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew remarked: "This is truly a proud moment for Ethiopian Airlines and for all of Africa. We are embarking on a new chapter with the groundbreaking of Bishoftu International Airport that will redefine the continent's aviation ecosystem. © Ethiopian Airlines GroupBishoftu International Airport stands as a defining project for both Ethiopian and African aviation, facilitating trade, tourism, and people-to-people interactions within Africa and beyond.

Iran’s locally made Bavar-373 is touted as a competitor to the Russian S-300 and even the S-400. Tehran claims it uses Sayyad-4B missiles to intercept targets at a range of 300 kilometres and an altitude of 27 kilometres.

That momentum has been supported by the largest fleet expansion in the airline’s history. Etihad added 29 aircraft over the course of 2025, lifting its operating fleet to 127 aircraft. Network reach expanded in parallel, with destinations increasing from 94 to 110, strengthening direct connectivity for UAE travellers across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and select long-haul markets. Nivetha Dayanand is Assistant Business Editor at Gulf News, where she spends her days unpacking money, markets, aviation, and the big shifts shaping life in the Gulf. Before returning to Gulf News, she launched Finance Middle East, complete with a podcast and video series.

BISHOFTU — Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has formally launched construction of Bishoftu International Airport, a US$12.5 billion greenfield development that is set to become the largest airport in Africa once completed. A New African Aviation Mega-HubDesigned as a future continental gateway, Bishoftu International Airport will feature four runways and aircraft parking capacity for up to 270 aircraft. When fully operational, the airport is planned to handle around 110 million passengers annually, placing it among the world’s largest aviation hubs. Relieving Pressure on Addis AbabaThe new airport is intended to ease congestion at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, currently Ethiopia’s main international gateway. Strategic SignificanceOnce completed, Bishoftu International Airport is expected to transform Ethiopian Airlines’ hub-and-spoke operations, providing long-term capacity for fleet growth and reinforcing Addis Ababa’s position as a leading intercontinental transfer point between Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas.