June 28, 2025
Kassahun Gofe, Minister for Trade and Regional Integration
Toronto – Ethiopia’s Minister for Trade and Regional Integration is reportedly in ICU unit of a private hospital in the capital Addis Ababa.
According to Wazema Radio, one of the reliable local news sources, Kassahun Gofe was involved in a fatal drunk driving accident last Sunday.
He has been in the ICU of Ethio-Tebib Hospital in Addis Ababa for about six days now.
The minister was reportedly driving home on the night of Sunday when the vehicle he was driving was involved in a fatal collision with a parked excavator near Karl square locality of the city, Wazema reported citing its sources.
Based on the report, first responders who took Kassaun Gofe out of the collided vehicle did not recognize he was a senior government official. However, they are said to have noticed that he was under the influence of alcohol. It was the first responders who reportedly took him to different hospitals in the city first and finally to Ethio Tebib where he reportedly stayed in the ICU unit..
He is said to have sustained severe damage to his ribs, hands and legs.
Furthermore, Wazema said that the accident was kept secret and there was a plan to fly him overseas for advanced medical treatment.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was reportedly informed about the accident when he was trying to have a meeting with the minister in connection with oil prices in the country.
Adem Farah, deputy president of the ruling Prosperity Party, has reportedly visited the Minister.
The Ethiopian government or the Ministry has not released an official statement about the condition of the minister and it is unspecified if he is in a life threatening condition. Borkena was unable to verify the information for other sources.
Under Abiy Ahmed ruling party, Kassahun has served as state minister in the Ministry of Transportation and was appointed as Minister of Trade and Regional Integration in July 2024 – at a time when the macro-economic reform was introduced.
https://borkena.com/2025/06/28/ethio