Yamastawaqiya minister, published by anonim which was released on 08 april 1968. Over the last 80 years, ethiopia has had four constitutions known by their respective dates of ratification. National anthem of ethiopia the national anthem of ethiopia, to be determined by law. Law and development, and legal pluralism in ethiopia. Ethiopia has a history of over three thousand years and is mentioned in the old testament. Law and religion in ethiopia the evolution of a complex. Sovereignty resides in the nations, nationalities and peoples of ethiopia. Download constitutional development in ethiopia books now.
My acknowledgment also goes to those who walked along and stood beside me ermias. Constitutional history of ethiopia constitutionnet. Though one of the key organizing principles that underpin the current constitution is the creation of a single economic community, the countrys long history of. Thus from 1991to1995, ethiopia was gradually evolving to a fullfledged federal system as it was also experiencing a decentralization that bordered federal noncentralization. The mechanism does not belong to any of the constitutional adjudication models operating in other countries. Pdf weaknesses of ethnic federalism in ethiopia haymi. The territory of ethiopia, in its entirety, is, from one end to the other, subject to the government of his majesty the emperor. Chapter two fundamental constitutional principles article 8 sovereignty 1. Although this was the first election in ethiopia s history based on universal suffrage, the presence of communist cadres throughout the country ensured that the constitution would be.
During the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, emperor menelik ii created the current ethiopian stat. Clapham, ethiopia faculty of law, haile sellassie i university, 1967 history 1021 pages constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia. The constitution declares ethiopia to be a federal polity with nine regional states based on ethnolinguistic patterns. Ethiopian constitutional development d19c49d9a7e1cdd5faf9a5caea4ad6fd. All the natives of ethiopia, subjects of the empire, form together the ethiopian empire. Classic examples of shams were the 1987 ethiopia tikdem constitution of the peoples democratic republic of ethiopia and the soviet constitutions of 1937 and 1977 that set forth operative principles of.
From 1998 to 2000, ethiopia and eritrea fought a bitter war over their common border. Constitution is a set of fundamental laws that govern and guide the power and function of the government. Ethiopias 1994 constitution is a direct result of the government pursuing a policy of ethnic democracy. During the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, emperor menelik ii created the current ethiopian state through expansion and conquest. Like most of africa, the outcome has resulted more from the direct past than from ancient historical traditions. A preliminary observation of the ethiopian system the present mechanism of constitutional adjudication in ethiopia demonstrates unique features. According to art 11 state and religion are separate. Wallis budge and asked budge to write a history of ethiopia. Leaders are democratically elected every eight years. All ethiopian languages shall enjoy equal state recognition 2. On top of further circumscribing the already limited access of journalists under the present press law it also. The constitutional right of nations, nationalities and peoples of ethiopia to selfdetermination including the right to secession ensures that ethiopia is their common country in which they live together under mutual understanding and cooperation. Christian education at the primary level is often conducted by clergy in the vicinity of places of worship.
The 1995 constitution, which established the country as a federation of multiethnic. Strongly committed, in full and free exercise of our right to selfdetermination, to building a political community founded on the rule of law and capable of ensuring a lasting peace, guaranteeing a democratic order, and advancing our economic and social development. Constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression in ethiopia freedom of expression was for the first time given juridical recognition in modern ethiopia by the revised 1955 constitution. In this constitution, provisions enacted in the masculine gender shall be deemed to include the feminine gender. The northern peasantry was continually reminded of ethiopia s earlier greatness and exhorted to work toward its renaissance. Ethiopian constitution the following english translation of the ethiopian draft constitution is an unofficial draft that has been released to enable members of the international community follow the discussions and forthcoming elections, pending publication of the official translation. Nor should it be neglected that the constitutional provisions have themselves a large impact on political reality. Federalism was introduced as the culmination to the longstanding national question, 10 and as a reaction to and result of a long history of a. The imperial constitutions of the empire of ethiopia.
Constitutional development in ethiopia volume 10 issue 2. The interest in federalism among the constitution makers of ethiopia was a reaction to and a result, at a time, of a long history of centralist tendency that was pursued stringently particularly during the military rule since 1974 up until 1991. Ethiopia s constitution of 1994 we, the nations, nationalities and peoples of ethiopia. The historical legacy of inequality and discrimination suffered by women in. Allegations of corruption are used and abused by those in power to. Despite this the mere existence of constitution cannot be a guarantee for constitutionalism. The constitutional history of ethiopia the journal of.
By way of structure, the constitution consists of twelve chapters and 106 articles, of which 39 describe the. It was promulgated in an impressive ceremony held 16 july 1931 in the presence of emperor haile selassie, who had long desired to proclaim one for his country. In the preface to his translation of this constitution into. Taiwan republic of chinas constitution of 1947 with. Ethiopia 4 international religious freedom report for 2018 united states department of state bureau of democracy, human rights, and labor fridays for workers to attend islamic prayers.
Introduced to ethiopia in the 7th century had the protection of the christian axumite ruler and its members were free. Their sovereignty shall be expressed through their representatives elected in accordance with this constitution and through their direct democratic participation article 9 supremacy of the constitution. There is no state religion and the state shall not interfere in. The 1994 constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia fdre considers ethnic contradiction as the primary problem in the countrys politics and reaffirms ethnic federalism with the right to self administration for all regional states including the right to secession adegehe, 2009. This constitution is an expression of their sovereignty. The traditional system is rooted in christianity and islam. The legend history of such second part of this paper deals with relation created menelik i and as a result constitutionalism. The constitution prohibits religious instruction in public and private schools. History abounds with examples of sham, fictive, or facade constitutions whose provisions do not correspond to actual governmental practice. Ethiopian constitution of 1931 1 chapter i the ethiopian empire and the succession to the throne art. Jan 07, 2011 in ethiopia, it is necessary that the constitutional provisions have a greater sustainability than the relative political context. The constitution of the peoples democratic republic of ethiopia preamble we. The constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia was adopted in 1994. Pdf constitution, constitutionalism and foundation of democracy in.
Ethiopia s ancient system of feudal government experienced significant changes under haile selassie i reigned 193074, who carefully grafted onto the traditional governing institutions a weak parliament of appointed and elected legislators, a judiciary with modernized civil and criminal codes and a hierarchy of courts, and an executive. From 1896 to 1907, menilek ii 188919 directed ethiopia s return into southern and western regions abandoned in the seventeenth century. Article 91 specifically states that the constitution is the supreme law of the land. Download constitutional development in ethiopia book pdf.
The constitution of ethiopia makes provision for constitutional supremacy. Private companies are not required to follow this policy. Since,constitutionalism does not mean only having constitution,but it is the practical. Any law, customary practice or a decision of an organ of state or public official which contravenes this constitution shall be of no effect. The existence of constitution is paramount important for the development of democracy in a specific country. Jitfi federalnegaritgazeta ofthefederaldemocratic republicofethiopia h1. Ethiopia s ancient system of feudal government experienced significant changes under haile selassie i reigned 193074, who carefully grafted onto the traditional governing institutions a weak parliament of appointed and elected legislators, a judiciary with modernized civil and criminal codes and a hierarchy of courts, and an executive cabinet of ministers. It deals with the ancient and medieval traditional.
Jun 30, 2012 ethiopia through various programmatic and policy support initiatives as the country sets out to achieve its bold and transformative agenda to be a middle income, climate resilient country by 2025. Constitution i and ii, which i believe would be of vital value to ethiopian students and instructors of law. The origin and character of ethiopian central institutions can be iunderstood by reference to at least four main factors. National anthem of ethiopia the national anthem of ethiopia, to be determined by law, shall reflect the ideals of the constitution, the commitment of the peoples of ethiopia to live together in a democratic order and of their common destiny. Pdf constitution, constitutionalism and foundation of. Now therefore, we, haile selassie i, emperor of ethiopia, do, on the occasion of the twentyfifth anniversary of our coronation, hereby proclaim and place into force and effect as of today, the revised constitution of the empire of ethiopia for the benefit, welfare and progress of our beloved people. As the use of the term federal constitution indicates, the constitution. Introduced to ethiopia in the 7th century had the protection of the christian axumite ruler and its members were free to worship openly nawadays estimated to 33. During the meles regime, ethiopia ratified a constitution based on a model of ethnic federalism, with nine ethnicbased autonomous administrative units or states, each exercising substantial authority within their respective regions.
The first attempt to compile the law in the legal history of ethiopia. Part i traces the evolution of ethiopias constitutional human rights guarantees in. Constitutional development in ethiopia journal of african. Download constitutional development in ethiopia book pdf epub. The first chapter has contained meaning and types of constitution, historical development of the constitution in ethiopia, meaning of constitutional interpretation. To vote on proposed constitutional amendments submitted by the legislative yuan by way of referendum. A proposed revision of the 1955 constitution was released in 1974, but it had no legal effect, and was soon forgotten in the events of the ethiopian revolution. The interest in federalism among the constitution makers of ethiopia was a reaction to and a result, at a time, of a long history of centralist tendency that was. Unity, human rights and development, 20 suffolk transnatl l. Hailemariam desalegn, the current prime minister of ethiopia. This process created a state with over eighty ethnic groups who speak over seventy languages. The constitutional history of ethiopia volume 3 issue 2.
Although this was the first election in ethiopia s history based on universal suffrage, the presence of communist cadres throughout the country ensured that the constitution would be adopted. Article 19 defending freedom of expression and information. Constitution, it is provided that peoples of ethiopia as a whole, and each. Dimensions in respect of nation, nationality and peoples of ethiopia. With respect to the rights of initiative and referendum, except as is provided in. Before 1931, the ethiopian empire had no formal written constitution. Constitutional development in ethiopia cambridge university press.
The difference between 1931 and 1955 ethiopian constitution pdf. It is more draconian than the press law in force and sets back the strides made so far in terms of the freedom of the press in ethiopia. Social classification is according to age with defined. Constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia. Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in africa and one of the oldest independent countries in the world. Eightyone percent of the electorate endorsed the constitution, while 18 percent opposed it 1 percent of the ballots were invalid. There has been no time in ethiopia s monarchical history when there has not been a state religion. Between 1959 and 1961 i worked with an ethiopian research student, getacaw takla maryam, on the constitutional history of ethiopia from the aksumite period. Ethiopias constitutional framework and legal institutions for. We, the nations, nationalities and peoples of ethiopia. The right to development under the constitution of the federal. Ethiopian constitution of 1931 ethiopian legal brief.
Higher education, with emphasis on traditional christian dogma, is still run by most major centres of worship, the most prominent being monasteries in. The present mechanism of constitutional adjudication in ethiopia demonstrates. Part one is largely dealt about the constitution and constitutional development in ethiopia. Meles zenawi has remained effective head of government. Huntingford between i959 and i96i i worked with an ethiopian research student, getacaw takla maryam, on the constitutional history of ethiopia from the aksumite period first to fourth centuries a. The interest in federalism among the constitution makers of ethiopia was a reaction to and a result, at a time, of a long history of centralist tendency that was pursued. State constitutions in federal ethiopia center for state. Abstract currently, there is an unprecedented incidence of corruption in ethiopia which poses two, interconnected, problems.
431 322 1528 164 1023 1347 1410 561 1334 731 879 861 966 143 96 637 1181 471 457 581 102 1568 1400 1172 953 1442 193 1476 1644 711 1389 849 765