Study Alleges Political Protection for Illicit Coffee Traders in SW Ethiopia

A recent study by the Rift Valley Institute (RVI) alleges that politically connected traders in southwest Ethiopia's coffee sector are benefiting from illicit activities due to selective law enforcement and weak accountability. The report highlights that fragmented regulatory systems allow these traders to evade sanctions while smaller farmers face mounting economic and land-related pressures. The findings were published as part of the Ethiopia Peace Research Facilitation program. The study calls attention to the systemic challenges undermining the coffee sector, which is a critical pillar of the Ethiopian economy.