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M-Pesa Finally Gets Green Light to Launch Mobile Fuel Payments Across Ethiopia

After months of regulatory delay, Safaricom Ethiopia’s M-Pesa has officially launched its mobile fuel payment service, following the Ethiopian government’s recent decision to allow broader digital payment competition in the fuel sector.

The new cashless fuel payment option, unveiled today at Bole Total Gas Station in Addis Ababa, lets customers pay for fuel using just their Safaricom phone number and PIN, making the process faster, more secure, and entirely mobile.

Previously, only Ethio Telecom’s Telebirr was authorized to offer mobile fuel payments—a strategic move by the government to drive adoption of the state-owned platform. But now, with Telebirr usage reaching a satisfactory level, authorities have opened the door to M-Pesa, signaling a more inclusive approach to digital finance.

“This launch marks a new chapter in Ethiopia’s push for financial innovation and consumer choice,” said an industry expert.

M-Pesa’s fuel payment system is set to expand to 2,000 gas stations nationwide in the coming weeks, offering drivers across the country a new way to pay without cash.

At the same time, Safaricom continues to advocate for regulatory reforms that create a level playing field for all telecom and fintech players in Ethiopia’s fast-growing digital economy.

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M-Pesa Finally Gets Green Light to Launch Mobile Fuel Payments Across Ethiopia

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