A spokesperson for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced today, Monday, that fund officials are visiting Ethiopia this week to finalize technical matters in preparation for a potential IMF-supported program in the East African nation.
The spokesperson indicated that the fund received a request from Ethiopian authorities for financial assistance to support their economic reforms, noting that the country has faced numerous shocks, including drought, the COVID-19 pandemic, internal conflicts, and the consequences of the war in Ukraine.
He added, "Any potential program will support the local economic reform program being implemented by the authorities and help Ethiopia stabilize its economy so that it can address its economic, humanitarian, and social challenges, create jobs, and reduce poverty."
The spokesperson continued, "The technical discussions taking place this week follow ongoing discussions between the fund and Ethiopian authorities regarding the best ways to address humanitarian and economic challenges."
Bloomberg, which was the first to report the IMF team’s visit to Ethiopia, indicated that global lender officials are expected to stay there for ten days.
The United States, the largest contributor to the IMF, is working to repair relations with Ethiopia following public criticism of atrocities reportedly committed by Ethiopian authorities and their allies during the Tigray conflict, which resulted in thousands of casualties before a peace agreement was reached in November.
