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Issue 181: African AI & Bad Surprises

Issue 181: African AI & Bad Surprises

April 07, 2025

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This past week, Africa signaled its ambition to join the global AI race, while Ethiopia’s debt talks advanced as official creditors agreed to extend repayment timelines. Meanwhile, Meta faces a major legal challenge tied to violence in Ethiopia. And in an unexpected development, Ethiopia has been included in a list of countries targeted by new trade measures

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Africa Proposes $60 Billion AI Fund

The inaugural African Global AI Summit concluded with the unveiling of the Africa Declaration on Artificial Intelligence that proposes the establishment of a $60 billion Africa AI Fund. Read more.

Official Creditors Grant Ethiopia More Time to Pay Debt, No Write-Down

Ethiopia's official creditors expect to finalize within months a draft debt restructuring that gives the government more time to pay but stops short of an outright haircut, the co-chair of the group told Reuters. Read more.

Ethiopia’s Bold Plastic Crackdown Sweeps Producers into Cleaning Duty

A draft bill currently making its rounds in Ethiopia’s parliament requires plastic producers to cover the cost of collecting, reusing, and recycling their products post-consumption. Read more.

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Meta Can be Sued in Kenya for Role in Ethiopia Violence, Court Rules

A £2bn legal case against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, over fueling ethnic violence in Ethiopia can go ahead, a Kenyan court has ruled. Read more.

Ethiopia’s Banks Report Rising Forex Allocation in Post-Reform Upswing

Wrapping up a week of major forex announcements, Bank of Abyssinia revealed it has disbursed nearly $350 million in the budget year. Earlier in the week, Awash Bank reported allocating close to $500 million to 2,200 customers since January. Read more.

Catering Services Thrive on Social Media, but Are They Reliable?

In a country like Ethiopia, communal occasions form the bedrock of the nation’s social fabric.

Whether it’s a celebration for newlyweds, a family gathering to welcome a newborn, or a ceremony marking the loss of a loved one, these events always bring friends and relatives together.

Traditionally, the preparations are just as integral to the ceremony as the event itself. Relatives prepare meals late into the night, sharing updates on each other's lives.

However, these preparations can be a heavy burden for hosts, sometimes becoming overwhelming. The new generation, embracing a modern lifestyle, increasingly views the preparation process as more of a burden than a rite of passage.

As a result, catering services, once considered a luxury, have become an essential part of event hosting in Ethiopia, particularly in the capital.

The digital realm plays a key role in this shift. TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram showcase a growing number of fresh faces offering catering services from the comfort of their homes.

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