ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopian Orthodox Christians marked Good Friday in the nation’s capital with muted celebrations as ongoing conflict has triggered severe fuel shortages and skyrocketing food costs that are disrupting traditional Easter preparations.
Ethiopian Orthodox believers follow a different liturgical calendar than most Christian denominations worldwide, who celebrated Easter on April 5 this year.
The Good Friday observance caps off a 55-day fasting period called Abiy Tsom, characterized by collective worship services where many faithful wear customary white garments. The day leads into an all-night prayer vigil where congregants pray for absolution and tranquility before Easter Sunday arrives.
However, inflated costs have significantly impacted both transportation and the traditional animal sacrifice ceremonies.
Local resident Samuel Teshome explained that sheep prices have nearly doubled, putting them beyond his family’s financial reach.
Fellow resident Sirawdink Admaus noted that rooster prices have similarly skyrocketed to nearly twice their previous cost.
Livestock vendors attribute these increases to dramatically higher transportation expenses for bringing animals from countryside locations.
The country is grappling with severe fuel shortages, with most service stations lacking adequate supplies. Some entrepreneurs have resorted to black market purchases, where costs are substantially higher.
Minibus operator Tefera Aragaw described how extended waits at fuel stations have devastated his earnings and expects a subdued Easter observance.
“We have been waiting for three days, and we spent the nights here. There is also a possibility that we may not be able to get fuel at all,” he said.
Government officials have implemented emergency conservation strategies, including permitting most civil servants to telecommute and directing available fuel supplies toward critical services first.
