Addis Ababa, May 18, 2026 (FMC) — Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has underscored data sovereignty as a strategic pillar of national development, emphasizing the importance of building strong domestic capacity for data collection, analysis, and evidence-based policymaking.
The Prime Minister made the remarks following his attendance at the National Summit and exhibition on statistical sovereignty held in Addis Ababa under the theme “Data Sovereignty for Policy Autonomy,” which brought together senior government officials, policymakers, and development partners to deliberate on Ethiopia’s data and statistical reform agenda.
In a social media post after the event, the Prime Minister described the summit as a reflection of what he called a “monumental achievement” in Ethiopia’s journey toward data and statistical sovereignty, highlighting progress in strengthening nationally owned data systems.
He stressed that data is a strategic asset and a foundational pillar of sovereignty necessary for building a strong nation-state, noting that reliance on externally sourced or “borrowed” data cannot fully support national aspirations.
The Prime Minister further stated that strengthening domestic capacity for data generation and analysis is essential to ensuring policy independence, adding that it was encouraging to observe Ethiopian professionals leading data collection and analysis processes, which he described as a source of national pride.
He also emphasized that Ethiopia’s data agenda must go beyond quantitative indicators and adopt a human-centered approach aimed at ensuring that statistical systems translate into tangible improvements in citizens’ lives.