Team Size: 72 staff members across 12 legal sections, with vacancies due to internal recruitment policies.
What are the most significant cases and transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in? 

Our legal team at Ethio Telecom has been deeply involved in several critical cases and transactions: 

• Contractual Transactions: I have played a central role in managing local and international contracts that are both financially significant and legally complex. These contracts often involve substantial sums of money and require meticulous legal oversight to ensure compliance and safeguard the company’s interests. 

• High-Profile Court Litigations: We are currently handling intricate court cases that involve substantial financial stakes and complex legal issues. These include cases related to labor law, construction law, tax law, competition law, intellectual property, and telecom fraud. A particularly sensitive case involves staff from the North Region, who are claiming salaries and benefits for the period during which our regional office was non-operational due to the civil war. Although many cases were resolved through negotiation, some remain pending, and these ongoing litigations are highly politicized and challenging. 

• Advisory Role and Training: In addition to managing cases, I provide strategic legal advice across various departments, helping them navigate complex legal challenges. I am also committed to continuous learning and knowledge sharing within our team, regularly organizing training sessions and professional seminars to keep our legal experts updated on the latest developments. 

• Alternative Dispute Resolution: I actively work on creating strong legal documentation that aids in resolving disputes through negotiation rather than litigation, particularly in matters involving regulatory bodies. This approach helps us maintain better relations with stakeholders and achieve more favorable outcomes. 

• Research and Policy Contribution: Through rigorous research, I contribute to identifying potential legal risks and gaps in current regulations that affect our operations. I also propose solutions for legal reforms that could benefit the company and the broader industry. 

Which recent political, economic or regulatory changes have impacted your work the most in recent years?  

The work of our legal team has been significantly impacted by several political, economic, and regulatory shifts in recent years: 

• Political Challenges: The ongoing conflict in the Northern part of Ethiopia and the current situation in the Amhara region have severely impacted our ability to perform essential tasks, such as debt collection. The security situation makes it unsafe and morally challenging to pursue these debts, particularly in areas where citizens are struggling for their lives. Additionally, political interference from top management, especially in cases involving government interests, has made it difficult for our team to operate independently. This has led to a tense working environment and strained relations within the company. 

• Economic Challenges: Ethio Telecom’s mission to accelerate digital transformation has led to a significant expansion in the scope of our services, including financial and cloud services. However, the country’s high inflation rate has made it increasingly difficult to collect non-performing loans (NPLs), even in regions not directly affected by the conflict. This economic pressure adds to the complexity of our legal challenges. 

• Regulatory Challenges: The introduction of competition in Ethiopia’s telecom sector has transformed the industry, bringing new legal challenges, particularly in relation to competition law. With the advent of new players in the market, our legal team must adapt to these changes and develop strategies to maintain our competitive edge. However, our efforts are hampered by a hiring freeze that prevents us from bringing in new talent and by high staff turnover, which has seen about 30% of our team leave in the past two years. 

Are there any causes, business or otherwise, that you are passionate about? 

I am deeply passionate about my work and the broader mission of Ethio Telecom. I thrive on collaboration and am always eager to support my colleagues and embrace new challenges. Some of my key contributions include: 

• Strategic Initiatives: I have been involved in deploying the Balanced Score Card system, revising our Strategic Plan, and preparing and amending various legal documents, including policies, procedures, and job descriptions. 

• Career Development: I played a key role in developing the Career Progression system and have participated in preparing exams for career advancement within the company. 

• Labor Relations: I represent the legal division in salary negotiations and have managed several significant labor-related court cases, including those of a collective nature. 

• Human Rights Advocacy: Protecting human rights and ensuring justice are causes close to my heart. My original aspiration was to become a judge to contribute to the justice system, but I realized early on that the environment was not conducive to achieving this goal. I have since dedicated myself to defending human rights within the corporate sector, despite the increasing risks associated with such work in the current political climate. 

Despite the numerous challenges, including political interference and high staff turnover, I remain committed to protecting the legal interests of Ethio Telecom and contributing to its vision of becoming a leading digital solutions provider in Ethiopia.