His pledges to open up one of Africa's last untapped markets thrilled investors. Officials in Ethiopia's finance ministry and the prime minister's office did not respond to requests for comment. Around 9.4 million people need food aid in three regions affected by the war, according to the United Nations, compared with 4 million before the war. "We don't have certainty about whether the conflict could escalate ... and don't feel comfortable buying Ethiopian debt at current levels," said Yvette Babb, a fund manager at William Blair in the Netherlands. LONG-TERM INVESTORSDespite the risks, some investors still cultivate Ethiopia's large and growing market, said Patrick Heinisch, emerging markets economist at Helaba Bank in Germany.

Source: Ethiopian News December 16, 2021 20:43 UTC