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FEDERAL NEGARIT GAZETA
OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA
3'. Year No. 54
v-1I+1;' ~oP-t ~'1'C :19-
lIt...Tr-k.l' "".e..t."'f .It'l"tlMl..f'f tTlIl\.tI ADDIS ABABA - 7th July 1997
h.ltll hnq - M. o!j"',} Ii!f.itii
fihllll +1II11r-"f?"tlc /l.-t ml1oJ:H flllff!

"7OJ-1il>},
CONTENTS
Proclamation No. 89/1997
h'l';E- 4!'I'C if!t/Ii!~it!i ~.\I'"
OD,}"lr'-r
ft I-'..&.A f1mC OD~-r M,..,..I\F.C
Federal Rural Land Administration
Proclamation Page 628
h'l';E- .......................................................... 1R' i~?it

M'1: ~'1'C iti!/!i!f1'i!

PROCLAMATION NO. 89/1997
ft tr-k.l' "".I-'..t."'f oP'}..,,..-t
RURAL LAND ADMINISTRATION
f1mC oP~-t hll+.I\f.C h'l'1:
PROCLAMATION OF THE FEDERAL
ft...-tr-kf 1I.h.C'"f , lI.h.~flf1"f'lihllf1r l1u.,..-t GOVERNMENT OF ETIDOPIA
ODt.1r -t..,A foP/o-t 11l\/l.-t.,-t ODlI-t foP'}..,,..-t'l fihllll 1I:f WHEREAS, as a result of the bitter struggle waged
01111'),lIt...-tr-k.f t I-'..Ir"'f .It'l"ht-fl..f'f tTlIl\.tI ih1OD'}..,,..-t by the Nations, Nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia, it is
I1OD~;111J1-I confirmed in the Constitution of the Federal Democratic
oPt.-t'l IJ-IH'} l\"'1l1+.I\f.C l\tlAI\-"f f+flmlll- Republic of Ethiopia that the right to ownership of land is
f+"''1'C'
,..AtI)'} /1,..1.. f"'l.III-l\1II- f"".e..Mr OD'}..,,..-t /1"'l.fllltl)lII- exculsively vested in the State and in the People;
"1- WHEREAS, Article 52(2)(d) of the Constitution
ih.., ODIPI.-t ODII').'} fih1OD'}"''''''' (g) (011) M"'1..f..,
h'}"'~:lg
provides that Regional Governments are empowered to
..,..,!
administer land and other natural resources in accordance
f1:');11.111- +..,I1Ir'f.,-t hm:l'''1-1-U-t fl\1II- 1I''f 110-1\-?"
with Federal laws;
tj ~111-f1mC ODt.-t hll+.I\f.C ih..,
hAI\-r U'}~ "''''2\'''1...,-t f"'1.. WHEREAS, the implementation of said provision
"7l11-tI)-t'} M "'1..m1-.}>! calls for the promulgation of a rural land administration law
ih1OD'}..,,..-t that is of a general scope and consequent identical ap-
/1h.-tr-kf "".I-'..t."'f .It'l"ht-fl..f'£ tTlIl\.tI
plication to all Regions;
h'}"'~ :I~(Ii) OOIP~-t f"'1..I1+1\1II- :"'1II-1(A"
NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with Article 55
(I) of the Constitution, it is hereby proclaimed as follows.
tI~A h,}~
m.}>"" PART ONE
General
Ii' h~C C611
1. Short Title
oo'}..,,..-t f1mC ODt.-t hll+.I\f.C
1-1J M'1: "f"".I-'..IrA This Proclamation may be cited as the "Federal Rural
M'1: ~'1'C Ti!/!i!fiti!" +-111\-I\.m.,.lI f,"f"A " Land Administration Proclamation NO. 89/1997."
j!. -tc~"'L
2. Definitions
Unless the context otherwise requires, in this
/uw
f:l'l\- h11111 1\." -tC1-?" f"'1..fflmlll- I1AII''' 1111+"'C' Proclamation:
M'1: 1II-1I'1'!
).?&T .?/l.fl/ -j"1f..i
T''''''''
J''}.'J.'I'.? Negarit G.P.O.Box SO,OOl
1.60
Unit Price
 Federal Negarit Gazeta - No. 54 7'" July 1997-Page 629
'IX' :,;j'r~!! t,,!t,,/..(:\ ~;)/.:" ;)/1.'" '/:'1'1: 'm /'I). o!j.,,') Iiif.!ti! 'HI".

"h/.\./.\." '''III:'' llih'I(/O')"'P"/: h')</'7\' ~1(ji) f'f-(iP1I 1) "Region" means a Region specified; under Ar-
A'
f},.,}\"A',r "...~../..I\'I~ -'t 'I"h(..(I..I"P. ~"'11I1.tJ M/.\. ticle 47 of the Constitution, as a member of the
h'" Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and
fll'~ )I/'\'/'\' (Un: f},.<;.iI "'111 M' fY.;(..P,,/, oPiI+.I\.I'.'C:
includes the Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa Ad-
")"'1"''' .l',I,LI..,."
( ../.\.: ministrations;
!{- "f'lIn!: {IPI..:"" '''III:'' "'/II;J~ 1I':f- h,"**oPlI-r 0I1>'/" 2) "rural land" means all land outside the boun-
f)I/.\.II' "'''h!: 11,:" },",I"II 111101'hI]/.\. ;JC lIoPoPl]hC daries of a municipality or outside an area which
11"1""/-1111"h"'l.(\,[',(/o(ll' },1]11I1. ID'''C' ,I'll
oP(..;r. ~OI" the respective Regional Council, in consultation
with the appropriate body, designates as a town;
t. "f.lW:" (/O'II:/'" "'III:" "'11;;'(11'''''' hi:... h.l'.C f1mC
3) "holding right" means the right any peasant shall
{lPt..:" II"...IC'; "'''''I!: II"''I'/.\.' 1I"'Iht..f;r.<; 1>1';"W' have to use rural land for agricultural purposes as
X')of-I'III,H'VL 1!'.h";I' 1\11,"'1'tI1. h'IA ""'I(II'/:iI f"'l.'1 well as to le.ase and, while the right remains in
1.(II'l1o'Il'} (\.11"):'11-(..", 111>II'I.AII'f'(II1>'/" 1111l1l1' effect, bequeath it to his family member; and
1'111.:" '''I{':(..:''')'; ,[';1'0',..,." -71'"" oPlI/IJ'I'<; "'IID'lil1 . includes the right to acquire property thereon, by
1>~Ll..,...t../.\.: .' his labour or capital, and to sell, exchange and
bequeath same;
!~. "f1>I':V"/i",,/i")" "'/11:" f1>JI;" oP'lI-r r,:;r.th'P. IIln<;
4) "distribution of holdings" means' a rural land
(H(/PtI'm~ (/O')'I.~: ),1-'tP'lil<; II;J(..
nC'" n"C"f allocation measure taken at intervals, upon de-
f"'l.III"'''o,O')'(/o(..:,' "'111>'" >t1-'thll/.\. 11"'11:/:"1 m'/' cision of the community, with a view to assigning
(.(11' ,'h',Hl I'N'I). IrUL III,V."l.1Lf"'l.h<;011 f1mC oP(..;r. holding rights in a fair and proportionate manner
.~:/.\.Y.II "'''/11/: "(11" as well as to demarcating land for communal use
"fl1."'(\-Il nll/.\." "'III'} f1>II;" '111-11":1 oP+.III.(.,r by peasants;
?i' 5) "family member" means anyone permanently
'/0. 11{IP:J/..:" M.""I.~:" n'lIe:' f...,.'i'C "'I1'1'/1»''}'' (II»'
living with a person having holding rights, by way
"ID': of sharing the means of livelihood of the latter;
';,- "f{IP(..'} },iI"'?'.I'.!:" "'III')' f1>I';I' (IP'II;r. nID"U'I,)<;
6) "land administration" means the a~signment of
f1>I';I' '/i"r/i") },,,.xx"''' "111':: holding rights and the execution of distribution of
holdings.
e. fJ':" n'lIlIlX'
3. General Reference
hlUJ },,/,:I.'..: (II'iI'" 11(11').\': ~:I' t'-/'Y."'I'II»' f(J.-r')'/" ~;I' The provisions of this Proclamation set out in the
.1'1];r.;J-/.\.:: masculine gender shall also apply to the feminine
gender.
11,11')'
PART TWO
h
'':/'\' General Provisions on Land
f-/.,')' nll"'p'.I'.C') f"'I.-1I1I1: nm;l>lI1> .I'.."};J'J.9'"f Administration
!!. (lPtVl.'" '1"11 4. Principle
-/.,,). f"'I1>7I'", f"'1>II(II'I' f},..)of'k,r 11th.C-.y.; ofIth./:(I(1"f<; Land is a common property of the Nations,
,'1.11(1")"'f:)(..1-1'I.')' "111':: Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia shall not be
subject to sale or to other means of exchange.
f,' fOO/,,')' hll"'?'.I'.C (l1I"'1.'IP(.,IH' (H;"
5. Conditions of Land Administration
A' "'1');;'1»'''''' h/.\.A f'/mC oot",} f"'lJlIofo.ll1:/:1JIo lULU I) Any Region shall administer rural land in accor-
oP,.. dance with the general provisions of this
n'/':~ l»'iI'I' IH'{.II'lIh.,:.l' nm;l>/l1>.I'.'"};J'J.9'"f
/:,1' 1>lr<;/.\.:: Proclamation.
~. IIILU}, 1.""" ')o'll n'Hx' (ji) .I'.'"};J'J. nl.."'''',/" >t.r"}.11 2) For purposes of implementation of the provisions
1,1',. fh/.\./.\. ,r/IJ"!A::
of sub-Article (1) of this Article, each Regional
"'''hc 11,:" f'IP(..;r. nll'f-.II.I'.C '-""1 Council shall enact a law on land administration.
[. fhAA foo/"'l' nlJo!'?'Y,C fnl]l1O, 'l'1I;I>"} nlloPA 3) The land administration law of a Region shall be in
'-"")
h." IlIlIm','h')""}" .I':'}:)'),!"':J'. .~C f'f-"!"!oo >t<; f4.1- conformity with the provisions oflaws on environ-
(../.\. (IIJ'}")P")' f(/o(..'l' nll1;1>.,..,." 7'lLI'I.") ,r1<;lIlI mental protection and shall observe the Federal
-II"} nIlIH':: land utilization policies.
!!. fh/.\./.\. f'lPt..:'. ),iI"'?'Y.C tIt"l oP(..-r') lloom"''/'"
4) The land administration law of a Region shall
11,,.,.y.fllmC: 1,"}-'tlt-'/" f1>JI.'" (iP11-r') confirm the equal rights of women in respect of the'
1I"'lI"'P,.I'.C',' use, administration and control ofland as well as in
1I"'lI-J'/III {':'; 1I"'III'-/:iI /:',Y: fl\..,.-.y-"} f>.h'A~-r respect of transferring and bequeathing holding
(lPlr.,. t.1l1I;r.~ rights.
00-1"'" f"'I..I'I.:)U"I'
j. foo/"'l' ),lI"'P'Y.C: '-"") foll')- 6 Contents of a Land Administration Law
A land administration law enacted by each Regional
ffhAI\' .,."hc: 11.-)' f"'I..l'fllflllD' foP(..;r. nil-l'.II~C: '-""1;
Council, shall:
ji' hJ';I' n,t':/,\,'}' fM f1>II;J. oP1H' IInC'" nl.?o<; 1\1,/1 I) ensure free assignment of holding rights both to
'j'".)". m" "'1M')'.).') f"'l.N.;J"I'" 1."')llt-'/" ntr~II' peasants and nomads, without differentiation of the
"''')1(: 11.-)' (D'''); (I"tVl.')' IItJAII' nll1;1>/l1> 0I1>'/" sexes; as well as secure against eviction and
IIh"./.\. II'''I.Y./:''' f<l°/p')' 'li""li") '/"tJ'),r;r. I]A"" displacement from holdings on any grounds other
h1>ll;t- oP-IH' than total or partial distribution of holdings effec-
1I1I"''''C 1111.1\ 1I'''n;;'(U.,/" '/"tJ1.N'
ted pursuant to decision by the Regional Council,
),11<1"""'/.\.',' ),lIiloIIS"'/'\' ') f"'l..l'lIh1IC!
 ~ Uf!J AJ.6-A ~;J6"" ..7/1."1'I!'I'C~!! I'tk f!J.,.., IDfTit ,}'II'" Federal Negarit Gazeta - No. 54 7" July, I997-Page 630

~. h,}~fhAf\< -t-a.1.'1'"i" u-~:'" I\hC" h~~":k 1\nl\'iT 2) assign holding rights sufficient for subsistence,
O"1l1C'I 1"6- I\OD-t--'l~~' 0-1: flf~ fJW:," ODlI"" both to peasants and nomads, subject to the
f"'l.,il1"S: particular conditions of the locality;
3) allow women to use hired labour on their holdings
f.. 1\.,.1- 11,1'.11:'"ODlI,+TID< 1\,1'./l.h-1-'} "''I'l.1D<tDM"
or to, otherwise, make agreements thereto;
0/1.1\ht.>.;\'}.,.iI""Ir.t"1D<I\.J'LP~ h'}~"'l.Tf\< f"'l.L~~: 4) permit the right referred to under sub-Article (3) of
11. lULU h,}"''''' '}o-il h.,.,.".. (f.) f-t-ffi.,.fllD<'} ODlIT this Article, to orphans not having attained
I\hl1l\ ODffi'} I\A~l.f\- j)~1\ ""IID<:,"'"I\h~oo ~11'1"T majority, the physically weak and to similar others; '-i
h'lI\OD<,\flf\<Tr f""l.t.~~. 5) fix criteria, such as family responsibility and
formation of a new marriage, for qualification to a
?;. 1\,1'.11:,"'1/\oD1I''''~'''' 114:
f"'l.'~C'" h,}.I'.fL-t-fllI ;)1\"" holding right; as well as set out standards, in a
~.".: '\~.iI ""}! (/I('LI.~T 'f\< ooilLC"'T'} h '}"lu-r descending order of priority based on family-size
},'}Y.II,'hHI hii'V"1- '(III"" .ff\< foo/.."" ~I\1-"" ooffi'} and such other objective factors of assessment of
'NLJ.II.X"ODO"II<;'",:r.'}IIODh.,.A ff.lI:," ODlI1: f"'l.fI'I' land demand, for determination of the extent to
which holding rights would be assigned;
liT'} iI"'T'I 'I'IH IIh1U'.T .l'.l.jf ~.I'.r .,.h.,.A f"'l.tD 6) provide that demarcation of land for house-buil-
In. ding, grazing, forests, social services and such
~. I\OD'i~' fLT ODP'~,f; /\"1(011: I\.I'.,}. 1\""I..,II&.'e MA"1 other communal use shall be carried out in accor-
h-""e;I\OD<'\(a/\m. f ..7&. ODffi"''''l.' dance with the particular conditions of the locality
f"'l.lD<l\ OD/..""
hMI\A h,}.I'.fht"III.1D< -t-a.1.'1'"i" u-~:'" he; 1IJ.1f1l
and through communal participation;
7) with respect to former holders of lawful standing
't"<'\Tt.': h'}~""I.tD(a'} f"'l.~~"1"1: and where distribution of holdings is erfected,
~. ff.lI.+ 1i"11i"1 fl.he;tD'} J...7'e flf). 'rI1C 111\,1'.11:'""'1- allow for an opportunity to retain, to the extent the
II.,.AII:,"TID< tDf.r 111'}H'1TID< fI.,l\- distribution would permit, portions of the land they
h-'~"" OD/"""
ID<iI'I' II-t-~I\ ODffi'} 1i"11i.,. f"'l.L'" ~I\TID<'}
have been improving upon their labour or capital;
'VA 8) where a holding right changes hands under dis-
OD/..T IIhjfTID< h'}"l-'f. iJ~A f"'l.fI'I'! tribution of holdings, ensure payment of due
:to 11,1'.1',+ 1i"11i"1 ht.Ju\r ff.lI:," ODlIT compensation, by the new holder, to a previous and
lI"'l.I\'f'tD'I'IIT
1.IL f.,. ~'I"ID< J...7'e ll/\f.fI:'" II.,.AII1: tDf.r IInmJ- lawful holder for improvements he had made on the
I\h'i"tD~1D< OD/..1:'} &.f\-'} f""lA""I"" P'&. -t-111..1D<'}11<'\ land by his labour or capital;
9) where a holding right changes hands under dis-
hh"lf\- 111\,1'.11:,"h'}"l'1"S f"'l.,ilTA:
tribution of holdings or terminate on various
ji. IIf.fI:'" 1i"11i"1 hLKKr ff.lI:," ODlI"" fI./\'f'tD'I' tDf.r grounds, guarantee the right to remove permanent
II-t-I\.f~ rh'}''''1- fI.*l.'I' IIOD/..1: 1\,1'. f-t-L&.ID<'} work builts, or tree-crops cultivated, on the land or
hOD/..1: IUffiA f""lP;'A *"'l. ,}lIl.T tDf.r to claim payment of compensation thereon or
UlI""
collection of the fruits thereof;
f""l'}<'\T tDf.r 1\1lu- fl1<'\ tJ~, tDM" Mil fODffif~,}
10) lay down a system based upon transparency,
ODlIT f"'l.'ilffill~1
fairness as well as the participation of peasants,
!. ff.fI:," ODlIT f"'l.fI'I'IIT'}'I ff.lI:," 1i"11i"1 f"'l.h'itD'}O especially of women, for purposes of assigning
T'} "1A"..'I flf~ h '}"lu-r
hC" h~~ '} 0.,.1\ holding rights and carrying out distribution of
~T"''e
f.r holdings;
1\"'1-'} f""l..J'<'\T~ fhLKKr P'c,"" f"'l.IIl...7'
11) provide for a grievance procedure on matters
Hi. 11,1'.11:,"ODlIT h<i 11,1'.11:,"1i"11i"1 '1--'1,1'.I\"'l.'rf\- ~/..:'"
pertaining to holding rights and distribution of
"'1- fhL:'"T P'C'T f"'l..J'II~; holdings;
!~. hlLU h'f'~ ..7C f""lf.?l.)' /l.h-1- hffi?I\f. tDf.r 12) make provisions, not inconsistent with this
h,}~fhl1llll..lD< -t-a.1.I1'"i" u-~:'" hilLI\1. If'r1D<f"'l.1"f.
Proclamation, for other general or particular mat-
ters as found necessary under the peculiar circums-
f-t-/\~ 'Mf"1-'} f"'l.~~"1"1
tances of the locality;
f.flT .f/\ID< ODIf'} h/\OT"
PART THREE
hA~ V'ilT Miscellaneous Provisions
Af. A~ ~'}.n"'1- 7; Payments on Rural Land Holdings
~, ill\1ffiC OD/..-'/' '.11:," h~.f"'1- I) Persuant to the provisions of sub-Articles (2) an~
ji. 1lJ.1OD'}"1,...1:hH".. n '}o-il hH".. (I) h<i (I) (10) of Article 97 of the constitution, Regional
1I-t-~'r111D< ODLPl.T' foo/..T tJtj:, h<i
Governments shall determine the rate of, and
ODffi"''''l.' collect, land-use-fees and royalties on the use of
tJ~'} f"'l.1"S f~'I\..1: h~, ODffi'} OtJAA
ODiI"'-'I~ forest resources.
~1- f"'l.rofl,}<i f"'l.flllfllI f.If<iA" 2) In fixing rates under sub-Article (I) of this Article,
fhAA rhc fL-r-1- IIIlV Regional Councils shall ensure the proportionality
I' h'}"'"" '}o-ll h,}"''''' Oi)
ODLPl.T fh~, ODffi'} fl.tDlI)' "'ODtlJtIJ"S~1:,} thereof.
""Il.;J1'1'
h1\11T1D<1I
 }y.@i t..1./..f:I. ~;I(.')' ;I'L"' ''''re:m I\); qj+1 lii!:itv. 'HI'" Federal Negarit Gazeta - No. 54 7" July, 1997-Page 631
"K'

8. Applicability of Land AdministnJutin Laws ~f Regions

~. lII\hAA f-~"" hiH"P,Y.C: '-"11' "'''.~''7.~''''
A land administration law heretofore enacted by any
f'IP~')' >'-.lI."P,f.C") 11',',"'1\11"., 11"7");;'111-9" fhAA 9"hC Regional Council shall be applicable insofar as it is not
11.,1' fUl"1 ,.,..", hJLU l.'f'1: ;lC f"7f,:f'l") "lIhll'~ f."lll inconsistent with this Proclamation.
.,:,. Wi l'l'A:: 9. Relation with Other Laws
.J'''.K''7. Any previous laws inconsistent with this Proclamation shall
hl'\.t\"'.y. ,M"Y-;lC MI\/I!' ",.n.H' not be applicable with respect to matters provided for in this
Ii'
Proclamation.
hJLU n'l'1:;lC f"7.,+l'r,,,,/,,':':tU.')<JD ~/IC ,'h'),f lULU n'l'~
10. Effective Dale
f,t-7I'",'I- ",P,f:.y.") 11-I--l\h,,' "'''.~''7.''''''
nf,'it,:fIll-9":: This Proclamation shall enter into force as of the 7th day of
July, 1997.
I' n'l':(. f"'U'i"II"" "1.IL
Done at Addis Ababa, this 7th day of July, 1997.
f,U n'l':t>: hen, c!}n mY-'ifii ~'9" "f.<JDr:fX'i" f,lr'i"A::

NEGASO GIDADA (DR.)

M.lI nll'l (\); t!! n IIlY-'ifi! ~'9'"
PRESIDENT OF TIlE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC OF ETIlIOPIA
f./c 'r;J(I "1..'1-'\

fn.""f-A',f l...y,,(..II'P. .<t'l"hMU''P.

"T'I1i\.h T~JL-'\")""

0(\(."')" c'JI\" ...,.,."'t..' .I'.'c~:,. :1-.,.....

BERHANENA SELAM PRINTINGENTERPRIS