The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has disbursed 261 million dollars to Ethiopia following the completion of its fourth review of its 48-month Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement. The IMF’s latest review praised Ethiopia’s macroeconomic performance as having “exceeded expectations,” citing robust GDP growth, rising exports, improved domestic revenue mobilisation, growing foreign exchange reserves, and a moderation in inflation. These developments, in the IMF’s assessment, reflect early dividends from the government's reform programme. “All quantitative performance criteria were met, and most indicative targets were achieved,” said a statement issued on Friday, January 16, 2026. The review also introduced a new binding ceiling on foreign-exchange intervention by the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), restricting its activity to the official auction platform.

Source: Ethiopian News January 17, 2026 10:53 UTC