Ethiopia faces a sharp fuel shortage, and transport workers across the capital report losing days of income in long queues. Commuters struggle to reach workplaces, schools and essential services.
Fuel stations across Addis Ababa show lines of vehicles stretching more than five kilometers. Drivers often remain in their vehicles for multiple nights while waiting to refuel.
Samuel Bekele, 24, a city minibus driver who agreed to be identified and photographed, said he went two full days without earning any income.
“I’m spending more than I’m earning just to stay in line,” he said while sitting in his vehicle after hours of waiting. “Even when we finally get fuel, the income from the trip will not cover what we lost.”
Interviews conducted April 6-10, 2026, across multiple fuel stations in the capital, Addis Ababa, revealed a consistent pattern of prolonged waiting times, limited fuel access, and increasing financial pressure.
Solomon, a cross-country bus driver and father of three, described an unsustainable cycle of several days of waiting followed by a single day of work.
“If this continues, transportation as a business may not survive,” he said. “There is no other job for me.”
Public’s Burden
Commuters across the city report arriving at work hours late. Some now walk long distances to reach their jobs.
An office worker in the Bole area, who spoke to Bantu Gazette on condition of anonymity, said she leaves home at 5 a.m. to arrive by 8 a.m., a commute that previously took less than an hour.
“My employer understands, but for how long?” she said. “Eventually, they will replace me with someone who lives closer.”
Students miss morning exams, and patients struggle to reach hospitals. Public transport availability has grown increasingly unpredictable, while alternative options remain unaffordable and disrupt daily routines.
The official price of diesel rose to 163.09 birr (roughly $1.04) per liter on April 1. Drivers report that the real cost includes lost time, missed trips and higher prices on informal markets.
Several drivers said they waited for hours or days, only for stations to run out of fuel before they reached the front of the line.
“We are not asking for charity,” one driver said. “We are asking to work. We cannot work without fuel.”
System Under Strain
Government officials acknowledged the scale of the disruption. Trade Minister Kassahun Gofe told parliament that daily diesel supply dropped from 9.2 million liters to 4.5 million liters. He said 180,000 metric tons of expected fuel did not arrive.
The minister said a small number of companies control most fuel distribution and authorities arrested hundreds of individuals in connection with hoarding and illegal trading.
Disruptions in global oil markets have intensified the shortage. Economists point to escalating conflict in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which has slowed tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The disruption has reduced deliveries from Gulf refineries and left Ethiopia short of contracted supplies.
The drop in supply, which represents about half of previous daily levels, places significant strain on transport operations in the capital. Economic activity in the city depends heavily on road movement.
Visits to multiple fuel stations across Addis Ababa revealed queues stretching several kilometers, with drivers remaining in place for extended periods. Some slept in their vehicles overnight, while others relied on limited food supplies.
Drivers at several locations described uncertainty about when fuel would arrive and whether supplies would meet demand.
Public transport stops reflected similar conditions. In some areas, passengers waited without clear information on when vehicles would arrive.
An elderly man at a bus stop said he postponed visiting family because transport had become unreliable.
Ripple Effects on Supply
Dereje, a vegetable and fruit trader who depends on deliveries from regional suppliers, said transport delays are disrupting supply chains.
“If this continues, we will start to see serious shortages,” he said. “Most of what we sell depends on transport from outside the city.”
Drivers also raised concerns about sustaining their livelihoods. Many rely on vehicles purchased with loans, which require regular use.
“If we cannot move, we cannot pay,” one driver said. “If we cannot pay, we risk losing everything.”
Global oil markets remain uncertain, while drivers and commuters in Addis Ababa face immediate concerns about how long the situation will continue.
For many, the timeline remains unclear.
“No one can keep working like this,” Samuel said. “Not much longer.”
