Addis Ababa, September 10, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has said Ethiopia’s homegrown technological capacity is driving the country toward digital sovereignty and technological self-reliance, positioning digital transformation as a defining element of the country’s future.
In a message marking the Day of the Future, the final day of Pagume and the close of the Ethiopian year 2018, the Prime Minister said Ethiopia is moving “from paper to digital, from passive consumption to active innovation,” as digital transformation increasingly becomes part of everyday life.
He said the transformation is streamlining commerce, expanding accessibility and modernizing public services, while digital service infrastructure is being expanded to ensure quality and seamless access.
The Prime Minister also pointed to the 5 Million Ethiopian Coders initiative as a major investment in the country’s young generation, saying it is empowering youth to become AI creators as Ethiopia works toward a target of 7 million.
“Backed by homegrown capacity,” he said, “our digital sovereignty eliminates technological dependency,” proudly signalling what he described as “a self-reliant, digitally driven new Ethiopia.”
He further underscored the importance of learning from the past while relentlessly building the present, linking Ethiopia’s technological transformation to its broader national aspiration under #DigitalEthiopia2030.
The message comes as Ethiopia concludes 2018 E.C., with September 10 marking the final day of Pagume, the country’s distinctive 13th month. Pagume normally consists of five days, while a sixth day is added in a leap year. The month follows the Ethiopian calendar’s 12 months of 30 days each and serves as the transition between the outgoing year and the New Year.
The Ethiopian calendar comprises 13 months, making it distinct from the Gregorian calendar used internationally. The first 12 months each contain 30 days, while Pagume contains the additional days needed to complete the calendar year. Ethiopia will welcome 2019 E.C. on September 11, with the New Year beginning with the month of Meskerem.
Pagume 2018 was observed under the overarching theme “Ethiopia’s Renewal,” with its five days dedicated to breakthrough, renewal, resilience, harmony and the future. The sequence provided a framework for reflecting on achievements of the outgoing year while looking toward the country’s priorities and aspirations for the year ahead.
The Day of the Future, observed on the final day, placed particular emphasis on Ethiopia’s technological transformation, digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence—bringing the year-end reflection to a forward-looking focus on how technology can shape the country’s next phase of development.