The streets of Ethiopia’s capital are set to host a fleet of high-tech electric buses designed to function as mobile government offices, in a bid to digitize and decentralize public service delivery.

Known as the Mobile Mesob Service, the initiative follows a directive from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to bring essential government services directly to the doorsteps of citizens. The project aims to bridge the gap between permanent administrative centers and residents in underserved or high-traffic areas.

Yonas Alemayehu, Director General of Addis Mesob, revealed that the new electric buses are fully integrated "smart" hubs. They are engineered to offer multiple services simultaneously ranging from documentation to digital ID processing replicating the efficiency of permanent "one-stop" centers within a compact, mobile environment.

The shift toward electric-powered mobile offices is seen as a twin-track strategy: modernizing the civil service while adhering to Ethiopia’s green energy goals. Officials say the primary objective is to eliminate "citizen exhaustion" by removing the need for long commutes to government buildings, creating a more inclusive and efficient administrative landscape.

The first phase of the rollout is expected to begin within weeks, signaling a major milestone in Addis Ababa’s journey toward becoming a fully integrated smart city.