The federal democratic republic of ethiopian constitution is among very few constitutions in the world that included secession right in their constitution. 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. How history and the 1931 ethiopian constitution perceive. Constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia home basic information general. The peoples democratic republic of elhiopia is a soverei, state whose territory comprisin, the land. This material covers all stages of the constitution building process. All members of the ethiopian army owe absolute loyalty and obedience to the emperor, in conformity with the provisions of the law.
Nationalism, selfdetermination, article 39, the eyes of. A person of either sex born to both or one ethiopian parent is of ethiopian nationality. In the peoples democratic republic of ethiopia judicial authority. To grant a constitution to all the ethiopian people. The structure of the ethiopian government and the new constitutions ability to overcome ethiopias problems t. The period 1434 1974 the period before 1434 the era of modern codified laws 19311974 written imperial constitutions the civil code of 1960 and other laws ii. Ethiopian constitution 1987 pdf ethiopia constitution. Preamble we, the nations, nationalities and peoples of ethiopia.
Even foreign nationals can apply to get ethiopian nationality through specified legal procedure. This constitution establishes a federal and democratic state structure. The peoples democratic republic of ethiopia is a unitary,tate in which all nalionalilies ii. Constitutional adjudication in ethiopia ethiopian legal brief. Ethiopian constitution 1987 pdf free download as pdf file. Pdf constitution, constitutionalism and foundation of. Ethiopian constitution the africa center university of pennsylvania. The following english translation of the ethiopian draft constitution is an unofficial. Any person of either sex shall be an ethiopian national where both or either parent is ethiopian. This was a very shortlived this was a very shortlived constitution in the countrys history that stayed in force until 1991. Provisions of this constitution set out in the masculine gender shall also apply to the feminine gender. Law and religion in ethiopia the evolution of a complex. The imperial constitutions of the empire of ethiopia. To this end, the main purpose of this paper is to explain the new democratic constitutional.
Constitution is a set of fundamental laws that govern and guide the power and function of the government. Introduction in 1994, ethiopia enacted its new constitution. Apr 09, 2011 1955 revised constitution of ethiopia. Dec 14, 2012 constitution is a set of fundamental laws that govern and guide the power and function of the government. This constitution is an expression of their sovereignty. Resources this page allows you to search and download thousands of official documents from selected constitution building processes in the americas, asia and africa. This article vehemently claims that carefully designed secession right in constitution can help to effectively prevent secession and disintegration of a multinational state. Negaso solan focused on the need for a constitution that mirrors ethiopias ethnic. A constitutional referendum was held in ethiopia on 1 february 1987. Kthe rule of law krespect for individual and peoples fundamental freedoms and rights kequalitynondiscrimination kcitizens participation in the political, social, and economic life of. The current constitution of ethiopia, which is the supreme law of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia, came into force on 21 august 1995.
In ethiopias own constitution there are a broad range of first and second generation rights. The peoples democratic republic of ethiopia shall, while ae romplishing the national democratic revolution, lay. This article summarizes human rights under the ethiopian constitution mainly surrounding chapter 3 of constitution and related constitutional provisions on human and democratic rights, and forwards some insights. The main provisions of this constitution which we grant to the ethiopian people are the following. All sovereign power resides in the nations, nationalities and peoples of ethiopia. In the united states, where federalism is basically a tool for separating. Ethiopia has a history of over three thousand years and is mentioned in the old testament. 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 history of ethiopia constitutionnet. Ethnicity serves as the foundation for ethiopias political parties and is what motivates the constitutions twotiered federal system. The constitution officially took effect on february 22, 1987, when the peoples democratic republic of ethiopia was proclaimed, although it was not until september that the new government was fully in place and the pmac formally abolished.
Language politics among ethiopian political parties. This article vehemently claims that carefully designed secession right in constitution can help to effectively prevent secession and. Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in africa and one of the oldest independent. 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. The ethiopian constitution of 1987 205 article 99 without prejudice to article 97 of this constitution, the special powers and duties that the shengos of autonomous regions may assume, shall be deter mined by the national shengo. Ethiopian constitution of 1955 6 b from the date of the proclamation of the present constitution, all realty registered in the name of the crown bete mengist are held in trust for the crown under the guardianship of the emperor and are inalienable. Ethiopian constitution of 1931 ethiopian legal brief. And by that, it has become one of the contentious article. The constitution consists of 106 articles in 11 chapters. How history and the 1931 ethiopian constitution perceive the ethiopians by getachew haile this short article addresses the issue of how ethiopias social and political problems are sometimes. The constitutional commission had its origins in the institute for the study of ethiopian nationalities, which the derg had established in march 1983 to find. It shall be ruled in common by a constitution and governed by an emperor. Article 7 gender reference provisions of this constitution set out in the masculine gender shall also apply to the. The peoples democratic republic of ethiopia shall, while ae romplishing the national democratic revolution, lay the foundation for the ronsltuction of socialism.
Pdf the procedure for the creation of new regional states under. The current ethiopian constitution declared that the state of ethiopia is structured in federal system based on cultural and language proximity ethnic based. Comments this is the official text as published in the federal negarit gazeta of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia, 1st year no. Constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia.
Adopted in december of 1994 and passed in june of 1995 by the transitional government of ethiopia, the document consists of 106 articles and 11 chapters. Walelign merged the leniniststalinist idea of the nation with frantz fanons. It divides the government into the house of peoples representatives and the house of federation. Micheau introduction emergent and reemergent nationalism seem to have taken center stage in a cast of new worldwide political trends. This paper tries to explain constitution, constitutionalism and foundation of democracy in ethiopia. The impact of the inclusion of secession clause in the. Given in our imperial capital, on this the 24th day of tekemt, 1948 ethiopian calandar, and on the twentyfifth anniversary of our coronation. Ethiopian territorial jurisdiction the territorial jurisdiction of ethiopia shall comprise the territory of the members of.
In 1987 the derg government adopted the pdre constitution. Constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia wipo. The 1987 constitution of ethiopia was the third constitution of ethiopia, and went into effect on 22 february 1987 after a referendum on 1 february of that year. Draft fdre constitution by abrham yohannes on may 7, 2020 leave a comment draft 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. The constitution was adopted on 8 december 1994 and promulgated by the constitution of the federal democratic.
The emperors and the republicscucullus non facit monachum, cardozo j. The constitution officially took effect on february 22, 1987, when the peoples democratic republic of ethiopia was proclaimed, although it was not until september that the new government was fully in place and the pmac formally abolished see the peoples democratic republic of ethiopia, ch. The new constitution would make the country a oneparty state with the workers party of ethiopia as the sole legal party. The primary task facing the wpe following its formation in 1984 was to devise the new national constitution that would inaugurate the peoples democratic republic of ethiopia pdre. Since,constitutionalism does not mean only having constitution,but it is the practical.
About the constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia. Foreign nationals may acquire ethiopian nationality. The origin and character of ethiopian central institutions can be understood by reference to at least four main factors. Mar 11, 2016 addis standard can you please briefly tell me the context in which ethiopias current constitution was adopted. Minasse haile, comparing human rights in two ethiopian constitutions. Republic of ethiopia fdre constitution had nine member states and one city. Modern constitutional history ethiopias 1994 constitution is a direct result of the government pursuing a policy of ethnic democracy.
Their sovereignty shall be expressed through their representatives elected in accordance with this constitution and through their direct democratic participation. Ethiopias 1994 constitution is a direct result of the government pursuing a. The constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia fdre provides for basic principles to which it is committed. It, inter alia, covers various aspects of the application and interpretation of human rights provisions, limitation and derogation from protected rights, the amendment procedure and. Looking ahead to the upcoming 2015 elections and the countrys longerterm stability and development, dr.
Accordingly, the ethiopian state shall be known as the federal democratic republic of ethiopia. In march 1986, a 343member constitutional commission was formed to draft a new constitution based on the principles of scientific socialism. The peoples democratic republic of ethiopia shall, while ae romplishing the national democratic revolution, lay the foundation for the. Topics derg, mengistu collection opensource language english. C it is the emperors right to administer all of the inalienable properties of. Twibell t woe to the nation in which each tribe claims to be a nation. The second part of this paper deals with constitutionalism. Its adoption inaugurated the peoples democratic republic of ethiopia pdre. A constitution for a multinational democratic statenation.
Negaso in 1991, in the wake of the collapse of the military derg, there were different national liberation movements which were very active all over the country. Fundamental principles of the constitution fundamental principles of the constitution. Constitutional development in ethiopia journal of african. The revised constitution of the afar national regional. Fundamental principles of the constitution ethiopia. Nationalism has appeared in many forms across asia, africa, europe, and north america. Ethiopian constitution of 1931 3 may be appointed o cers in the army or civil o cials, or to any other posts or o ces in the service of the state. The federal democratic republic shall be comprised of states. Its history, implications and limitations in africa in. Particulars relating to nationality shall be determined by law. The question of proper implementation of the constitution when it comes to the oromo question is indeed the igniter the question of the addis abeba master plan that goes back to article 495 of the constitution where a law should have been made according to that constitution. Article 7 gender reference provisions of this constitution set out in the masculine gender shall also apply to the feminine gender.
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