Ethiopian lawmakers ratify eight international agreements and financing

Addis Ababa, June 4, 2026 (FMC) — The House of Peoples’ Representatives (HoPR), during its 23rd regular session held today, has ratified eight international agreements and development financing arrangements referred to it previously by the Council of Ministers following prior examination and endorsement.

The approved bills comprise four air service agreements, two bilateral cooperation accords, and two loan financing agreements, all submitted to the House after being forwarded by the Council of Ministers in earlier regular sessions.

Lawmakers first approved four air service agreements signed between Ethiopia and the governments of Sierra Leone, Angola, Bangladesh, and Eswatini.

Deputy Chairperson of the House Standing Committee on Foreign Relations and Peace Affairs, Fetihi Mahdi, presented the agreements, noting that they are aimed at expanding international air connectivity, improving aviation services, and strengthening cooperation in trade, tourism, and investment.

The agreements grant expanded passenger and cargo traffic rights, including third and fourth freedom operations, with selected fifth freedom provisions designed to enhance operational flexibility for air transport services.

The House unanimously ratified all four air service agreements.

Parliament also approved an agreement between Ethiopia and the Russian Federation to establish a joint biological research center. The agreement is intended to strengthen scientific cooperation, enhance collaboration between research and higher education institutions, and support the development and application of research outputs.

In the same session, lawmakers ratified an agreement between Ethiopia and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on the mutual exemption of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official/service passports. The agreement is intended to facilitate official travel and further strengthen bilateral diplomatic relations.

Both cooperation agreements were unanimously approved.

The House further ratified two financing agreements presented by Government Chief Whip Tesfaye Beljige.

The first is a 71.94 million U.S. dollar loan from the African Development Bank Group to finance the Pastoral Community Food and Livelihood Improvement Project. The project aims to strengthen pastoral livelihoods and resilience through integrated development interventions, including expansion of water infrastructure, animal health services, sustainable land management, agribusiness development, renewable energy, and climate monitoring systems.

Officials noted that the project, which is currently being implemented in 30 woredas, is expected to further enhance resilience to climate-related shocks and improve productivity in pastoral areas.

The second financing agreement is with the International Development Association for the sixth phase of the Productive Safety Net Program. The program is designed to support food-insecure households in transitioning from dependency to sustainable livelihoods and will be implemented across 494 woredas in 12 regional states and one city administration.

The House ratified both financing agreements, which had been previously referred by the Council of Ministers following their review and endorsement in earlier sessions.

The House stated that the approved agreements are aligned with Ethiopia’s broader development priorities, including strengthening economic cooperation, expanding international partnerships, and enhancing social resilience.