News AfDB “delighted” to normalize Ethiopia relations, investigating missing fund

AfDB “delighted” to normalize Ethiopia relations, investigating missing fund

By Kidus Dawit

January 19, 2024

The executives of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) have announced international

staff will be returning to Addis Ababa with “delight” following commitments and reassurances
from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD).

The physical assault and detainment of two foreign AfDB employees by Ethiopian security
forces nearly three months ago led the Bank to withdraw its international staff from its Addis
Ababa office in December.

A month later, the Bank says all international staff will return following “fruitful” meetings
between the PM and Akinwumi Adesina, AfDB president, in the Ethiopian capital in the final
days of 2023.

The Ethiopian government has made a formal apology to the Bank, and “a firm commitment to
fully cooperate with the Bank on investigations into the issue of missing funds that were to have
been transferred to the Bank,” according to a statement released today.

The African Development Bank finances nearly two dozen projects valued at USD 1.24 billion in
Ethiopia.