2018: The Year Abiy Ahmed Started to Put Ethiopia's House in Order

The Horn of Africa giant has had a whirlwind 2018. A leadership change in Addis Ababa paved the way for Abiy Ahmed to become prime minister. Energetic, young and ambitious, the new head of state is pursuing a whole host of projects, ranging from a broad ethnic reconciliation campaign to temper internal instability to brokering a peace deal with erstwhile foe Eritrea. The economic front has also been full of activity, as Abiy has promised to reform the country's top-heavy economy by partially privatizing major state-owned companies like EthioTelecom, Ethiopian Airlines and others. As Ethiopia enters a new year full of new challenges, here's a look back at some of the articles that dominated Stratfor's coverage of the rising giant in 2018....