Kenya and Ethiopia have pledged full government support for joint investment initiatives between Kenya’s Safaricom and Ethiopia’s state-owned Ethio Telecom.
President William Ruto made a working visit to Addis Ababa, where he met Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali to discuss bilateral relations and regional cooperation. The leaders announced that both governments will back Safaricom and Ethiotel as they explore strategic investment opportunities across regional markets.
In a post on X, President Ruto said, “Made a visit to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where I held fruitful discussions with Prime Minister @AbiyAhmedAli. Among other key issues, we agreed to support Ethiotel and Safaricom as they explore strategic joint investment opportunities across regional markets, with the full backing of the governments of Kenya and Ethiopia.”
He added that the two countries will continue to strengthen cooperation while promoting peace and security in the Horn of Africa. “Together, we reaffirm our shared commitment to stability, dialogue, and African-led solutions, anchored in a common vision for stronger economic integration, digital growth, and shared prosperity,” Ruto said.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali also expressed support, stating on X, “Today, I welcomed President @WilliamsRuto of Kenya for a one-day working visit, reflecting the deep, historic, and brotherly relations between our two nations. During our meeting, we focused on strengthening bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional peace and security in the Horn of Africa.”
Safaricom has been operating in Ethiopia since receiving a license in 2021 and launched services in 2022 as the first private competitor to Ethio Telecom. The company has invested billions in expanding its network, aiming to improve digital inclusion in one of Africa’s largest markets.
The agreement between the two countries signals a new phase of collaboration, potentially covering joint ventures in infrastructure, digital services, and regional expansion. Both leaders emphasized that economic integration and digital growth will be key pillars of this partnership, alongside commitments to regional stability.
This announcement comes amid changes in Kenya’s telecommunications sector, including the government’s recent partial sale of its Safaricom shares to Vodacom. Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has defended the move, urging critics to raise their concerns through parliamentary channels rather than public debates.
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