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Ethiopian PM reveals country could get $10.5 billion if talks with World Bank, IMF succeed

Published

3 months ago

July 6, 2024

If lengthy negotiations with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are successful, Ethiopia would get $10.5 billion in support over the next few years, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on Friday.

The most populous nation in East Africa had severe inflation and ongoing shortages of foreign currency in December, making it the third country on the continent to experience a debt default in as many years.

If lengthy negotiations with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are successful, Ethiopia will get $10.5 billion in support over the next few years, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on Friday.

“We have been having a wide range of talks, negotiations and discussions with the IMF and World Bank. Because we were a bit tough with them and they were also tough with us, the (talks) took five years,” Abiy told lawmakers.

“Now with the support of some friendly countries, it seems like many of our ideas have been accepted. If this succeeds and we can agree on the reforms, Ethiopia will get $10.5 billion in the coming years,” he said.

Without going into further detail, Abiy continued, “There were some reforms the government was unwilling to undertake right away.”

“There are some areas we think should be reformed now, and there are things we think should stay as it is. If all these suggestions get accepted and we agree, there is an opportunity ahead of us. This reform agenda will play a huge impact in alleviating the debt burden,” the prime minister said.

Related Topics:Ethiopia Featured IMF World Bank

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Kenya urges IMF to probe corruption after Western pressure

Published

24 hours ago

October 4, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Following pressure from Western countries, Kenya’s government has requested that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) conduct an official evaluation of the country’s governance and corruption problems.

Kenya has battled debt that has risen to dangerous levels in recent years. Its decision to back out of planned tax increases earlier this year in response to violent protests made it more difficult for the country to receive a $600 million payment from the IMF.

The countries must request the so-called “governance diagnostic,” which examines if corruption and governance flaws are sapping revenue or causing other issues with state finances.

“We have received a governance diagnostics request from the authorities,” an IMF spokesperson said in response to written questions.

“The government of Kenya aims to strengthen its governance and anti-corruption policies. They intend to utilize these diagnostics to enhance public spending efficiency, boost competitiveness, foster growth, and inclusively reduce poverty.”

According to a person with knowledge of the matter, the assessment would be a gesture of goodwill in the nation’s attempts to get its finances back on track even though it was unrelated to the payment.

President William Ruto was forced to rescind $2.7 billion in proposed tax increases in June as a result of widespread protests centred around perceived waste and corruption in the government.

Requests for comments were not answered by Kenya’s finance ministry. The news that Western countries were pressuring for the IMF review was originally broken by Reuters on Tuesday.

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TotalEnergies CEO to meet Mozambique president for further project discourse

Published

2 days ago

October 3, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

To discuss the company’s proposed LNG project in Mozambique with the nation’s new president, CEO Patrick Pouyanne has announced he will travel to Mozambique later this month.

“The project remains profitable, we remain committed,” Pouyanne said at an investor presentation.

The $20 billion Mozambique LNG project has been delayed because of worries about violent upheaval in the area, although Pouyanne claimed there had been “progress on security” recently.

On October 9, Mozambicans will cast their votes in presidential and legislative elections that will almost certainly prolong the fifty-year rule of the ruling Frelimo party, which is fighting a protracted Islamist insurgency in one of the largest gas reserves in Africa.

Pouyanne went on to say that lenders had affirmed between 70% and 80% of a $14 billion finance package that supports the project.

“We are waiting on the green light on financing from three credit agencies, some are in Western countries where rules on gas have changed … as soon as that is in place we will move,” Pouyanne said.