Truckloads of Coca-Cola began rolling out of the bottling plant in Addis Ababa Friday, ending a nearly two-week Coke-drought. The local bottler had to shut down this month when it became impossible to obtain the hard currency needed for imports such as bottle caps.

With its foreign exchange reserves at a critical low, Ethiopian authorities have been giving priority to necessities like wheat and fuel.

But Coke bottling company spokesman Solomon Shiferaw says government bureaucrats have granted approvals to get the beverage flowing again.

"The flow of foreign currency was not as it was before. We have to wait some time to get the approval but yes we are getting the approvals, we're being supported so we're back in business," Shiferaw said.

Coca-Cola had become a rare commodity in shops across Ethiopia as supplies dried up. 

Hotels and restaurants where the soft drink was available suddenly found business booming. One restaurant manager, who asked for anonymity due to fear of reprisal, said drinking Coke is seen by many as a political statement, because the rival Pepsi bottler is owned by a conglomerate with close government ties.