• M-Pesa accuses Ethio Telecom of blocking access to new Lehulum app
  

• App aims to offer universal M-Pesa access, approved by national regulators
  

• M-Pesa expands in Ethiopia with 3.5M users, 95M USD in recent transactions

M-Pesa Ethiopia, the digital financial services arm of Safaricom Ethiopia, said last week that incumbent operator Ethio Telecom is restricting access to its new M-Pesa Lehulum app. The app is designed to allow all Ethiopians to use M-Pesa, regardless of their mobile network.

In a statement issued on Friday, M-Pesa said the app is currently not accessible on smartphones using mobile data services managed by Ethio Telecom, which prevents users from logging in, making transactions or withdrawing funds. M-Pesa Ethiopia noted that the service, launched on Dec. 1, is fully approved by the National Bank of Ethiopia and the Information Network Security Administration.

M-Pesa Ethiopia said the app is intended to make M-Pesa services accessible to all Ethiopians, regardless of their mobile operator. According to the company, the platform brings together key functions such as person-to-person transfers, merchant and bill payments, airtime purchases and transfers with banks and other wallets through EthSwitch integration. It also provides access to the Errif Be M-Pesa overdraft facility.

The rollout of the app forms part of Safaricom Ethiopia’s broader effort to expand its market presence since it began operations in August 2023. On Oct. 28, M-Pesa joined the national payment network EthSwitch. In May 2025, the operator announced plans to introduce savings and loan services through its mobile platform. In October 2024, it extended its M-Pesa Global service to Ethiopia, enabling transfers between Kenya and Ethiopia. The platform is also working with public authorities to digitize payments in the country.

Safaricom reported 3.5 million active 90-day M-Pesa users in Ethiopia at the end of September 2025. In the first half of its 2026 financial year, the platform recorded 84.7 million transactions worth 12.3 billion Kenyan shillings, or 95.16 million dollars. Ethio Telecom, for its part, aims to reach 75 million Telebirr users by 2028, up from 54.8 million today, with an estimated transaction value of 21,300 billion birr, or about 137.4 billion dollars.

Isaac K. Kassouwi