Why Ethiopia could be the first country to ban imports of internal combustion cars
Ethiopia is, by many metrics, one of the least developed countries in the world, but it is often considered an emerging power. It has the fastest economic growth of all sub-Saharan African countries due to foreign direct investment in expanding agricultural and manufacturing industries. However, in terms of per capita income and human development index, the country has high poverty rates, low respect for human rights, widespread ethnic discrimination and a literacy rate of only 49%.
We are talking, in any case, about one of the few countries in Africa that managed to resist colonial pressure, a past of independence of which they are very proud. Yet Ethiopia spent almost $6 billion on fossil fuel imports last year, and more than half of that went on vehicle fuel. In response, the country’s Ministries of Transport and Logistics have announced a drastic measure: a total ban on importing cars into Ethiopia unless they are electric.
Compared to the rest of the world, which plans to ban the sale of combustion-engine vehicles by 2040 (in Central America, India and several African countries), 2035 (in most of Europe, the United States, Japan, Singapore or New Zealand), or 2025 (Norway), Ethiopia intends to ban them right now. Alemu Sime, Ethiopia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics…
