Ethiopia’s June 1 election countdown: NEBE says it has wrapped up a nationwide political parties debate series and has started the mandatory “Period of Silence,” with 33 parties debating 19 major issues—while Reuters reports Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party is poised to dominate despite unrest across regions and voting suspended in parts of Amhara and Tigray. Election legitimacy and security: DW describes a campaign atmosphere with little visible mobilization in Addis Ababa and voters doubting their impact, as analysts warn conflict and external geopolitical rivalry in the Horn could shape the vote’s outcome. Debt talks—creditor “comparability of treatment”: Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance commits to keep repayment terms for external official creditors aligned under the Official Creditor Committee framework, aiming for a fair, orderly restructuring process. Health emergency spillover—Ebola pressure on the region: WHO and Africa CDC warn that suspected Ebola cases in eastern DRC are nearing 1,000, with heightened risk flagged for multiple countries including Ethiopia, as screening and travel restrictions tighten. Medical tourism push: Ethiopia’s health ministry says it wants to upgrade tertiary care and use AI diagnostics to attract patients from the Horn, citing expanded services in Addis Ababa. Regional investment diplomacy: Ghana’s GIPC pitches Ethiopian firms at an Addis Ababa expo, urging them to use Ghana as a gateway into West Africa’s AfCFTA/ECOWAS market.