Ethiopia’s Beneficial Ownership Transparency Regime under Regulation No. 592/2026: A New Era of Corporate Disclosure

Hirko and Associates Law Office

August 2026

On 10 July 2026, the Council of Ministers issued the Transparency of Legal Persons Beneficial Ownership Information Regulation No. 592/2026 (the “Regulation”), establishing Ethiopia’s first comprehensive framework for the identification, registration and disclosure of beneficial ownership information. The Regulation was published in the Federal Negarit Gazette on the same date and entered into force upon publication. It represents a significant development in Ethiopia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework.

The Regulation is issued pursuant to Article 55(1) of the Prevention and Suppression of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Proclamation No. 780/2013, as amended by Proclamation No. 1387/2025. It gives practical effect to the statutory requirement for a central beneficial ownership registry and establishes disclosure and verification obligations for legal persons operating in Ethiopia.

This Legal Update considers the principal requirements of the Regulation and their practical implications for legal persons, regulated entities and other stakeholders.