A deepening fuel crisis has brought daily life to a near standstill in Ethiopia’s capital, after more than 180,000 metric tons of fuel failed to arrive amid strained supply contracts linked to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
Long queues now stretch for blocks across Addis Ababa, with hundreds of vehicles lined up along major roads and side streets far beyond the entrances of fuel stations. While authorities report that daily benzene supply has declined only slightly, diesel supply has dropped by half—from 9.2 million liters to 4.5 million liters per day.
“I’ve been in the queue since yesterday. I didn’t even go home,” said one driver who provides transport services for employees at the industrial park. “I haven’t worked for two days, which means I have nothing to take home to my family. I’m worried I may not get fuel today. I’m only waiting with hope.”
In response to the sharp drop in diesel supplies, the government has introduced rationing and prioritization measures. “Rather than restricting social and economic activities, we chose to address this challenge by working closely with the public in the spirit of cooperation, encouraging fuel saving and ensuring its use with priority given to essential services and key economic sectors,” an authority spokesperson said.
Alongside these measures, the government has launched a crackdown on illegal fuel sales and related corruption. More than 600 individuals are now in police custody, including the chief of the Ethiopian Petroleum Supply Enterprise and the Deputy Director General of the Petroleum and Energy Authority.
Economists are warning of severe short- and long-term consequences. “Because of the rise in fuel prices, inflation may spike,” one economist said. “There will also be fiscal strain on the government budget side because the government needs to subsidize fuel prices in order to protect low-income groups. If this situation persists in the long term, it will have an implication for foreign exchange reserves. If the country depletes its foreign exchange reserves, this would have its own implications on some of its obligations.”
On the streets, as the queues continue to grow, so does public concern—not just about how long the fuel shortage may last, but about the wider economic consequences that could follow.
