The first state policy was a unitary system of government which was used until the downfall of the derg regime in 1991. In august, after a proposed constitution creating a constitutional monarchy was. Jun 26, 2012 initially the derg was popular following the coup against haile selassie who came to power under the slogan of ethiopia first, land to the peasants and democracy and equality to all. Ethiopian constitution of 1931 1 chapter i the ethiopian empire and the succession to the throne art. The difference between constitution of ethiopia in derg. The constitution officially took effect on february 22, 1987, when the peoples democratic republic of ethiopia was proclaimed, although it was not until. Confrontation between traditional and modern forces erupted and changed the political, economic, and social nature of the ethiopian state.
Empress zawditu died in april 1930, and in november 1930 negus tafari was crowned haile selassie i, elect of god, and king of kings of ethiopia. Under both the imperial government of haile selassie and the derg, the ruling elite closely managed. The ethiopian history is marked by abundance of internecine and international wars though the country has managed to maintain its independence during the period of the europeans scramble for the rest of africa. Ethiopian constitution africa center, university of. Democratic republic of ethiopia pdre in 1987also failed to create a new social and political basis for the country clapham 1994. The 1987 constitution the 1987 pdre constitution which opened a chance for grassroot level discussions on the provisions of the draft constitution shows the weight given to human rights in the text of constitution fasil, 1997. The 1987 constitution of the peoples democratic republic of ethiopia also known as derg s constitution affirmed the equality of nationalitiesethnic groups and their right to. Ethiopian somali region, in defence of the multinational. We, the nations, nationalities and peoples of ethiopia. The 1987 constitution of ethiopia was the third constitution of ethiopia, and went into effect on. The constitution reflected both a backlash against the derg s ethnic violence and ethiopia s multitude of ethnic groups. Amharic shall be the working language of the federal government. The 1994 constitution reflected both a backlash against the derg s ethnic violence and ethiopia s multitude of ethnic groups. Ethiopias status as an independent african state allowed him to secure addis ababa as the headquarters for the newly created organisation of african unity oau in 1963.
Constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia wipo. The oromo moved north through the southern highlands, bypasssing the sidama on the west, and into the central highlands, where they settled in the center and west on land, some. Emperor selassie ruled ethiopia until 1974 when civil unrest broke out. Article 29 reproduced also in the official amharic text below2 states. What is the difference beteween 1931 and 1955 constitution. Thus, basic features of law, sources of law in general and the sources of ethiopian law are covered. Derg is the first ethiopian government that acknowledged ethiopia as a home of various ethnic groups and that legalized the equality of ethnic groups in ethiopia. It also discusses the precedents of international tribunals such as the european court of human rights ecthr, the interamerican court of. Under the ruling party rural voters have made small but significant economic and sociocultural gains such as autonomy for ethnic groups in language choice. Selassie in may 1991, the much hated and brutal militarymarxist dictatorship that traumatized ethiopians for seventeen years was finally overthrown. In july, a national conference was held, which included xonstitution from over 20 ethnic and regional groups. In 1931 haile selassie promoted a constitution which made ethiopia a constitutional monarchy. In the late 19th century italy acquired control of the territories of eritrea on the red sea coast and somali on the indian ocean. Its adoption inaugurated the peoples democratic republic of ethiopia pdre.
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. While there is a long way to go before achieving the intricately designed article 39 of the 1994 ethiopian constitution, the magnitude of the oromo uprising has given a plausible signal for the possibility of secession or the. Ethiopian constitution 1987 pdf ethiopia constitution. Addis ababa university in the shadow of the derg, 19741991 261 in spite of the government announcing time and again their intention of drafting a new constitution that would give ethiopia a federal structure of autonomous regions,12 nationalize landed property of the aristocracy without compensation,oppositional. Initially the derg was popular following the coup against haile selassie who came to power under the slogan of ethiopia first, land to the peasants and democracy and equality to all. Although it is not mentioned in the constitution, urban residents are also provided with the. Problems and prospects for democracy by alemante g. Like the 1991 charter, the 1994 constitution recognised the rights of. Ethiopia adopted a constitution that creates a twotiered federal structure, which, at least in principle, emphasized ethnic groups rights and the right to selfdetermination. The derg became deeply unpopular due to ill sought out policies and mass executions, which sent a shock wave across the country. Ethiopia, april 2005 the united nations high commissioner for refugees, and the world health organization, and the world trade organization. The constitution of ethiopia makes provision for constitutional supremacy. Constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia home basic information general information the house of peoples representatives the house of the federation current developments preamble we, the nations, nationalities and peoples of ethiopia. 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.
The derg officially the provisional military government of socialist ethiopia, was a. Mengistu, staged a marxist coup, which overthrew emperor. Tesfaye abate alpha university college prepared under the sponsorship of the justice and legal system. 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. 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. Incorporation of human rights into legal frameworks of the. It has been replaced by a constitution following similar principles. The major military, if not the political, forces responsible for the demise of the dictatorship known as the. Eprdf that assumed power after its military victory over the derg in. It addresses the volatile issues of ethnicity and selfdetermination. Introduction to law and the ethiopian legal system teaching material prepared by. The ethiopian revolution, the derg, civil war and famine. Jun 19, 20 the difference between constitution of ethiopia in derg and. Ethiopias 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.
Their right is founded solely and exclusively on the sweeping constitutional guarantees they enjoy under articles 29 and of the ethiopian constitution. To accomplish its goals, the derg established an intermediary organ called the provisional office for mass organization affairs pomoa. Under the derg, a new quota system provided more admission places for students from schools in rural areas. Jumping on the bandwagon, the ethiopian constitution aims to build a. The elections suggest that sharp divisions among political elites in ethiopia and among the various ethnic and regional communities have been salient since at least 1991, when the derg fell. Derg, the new government embarked on ethnicbased federalism under the 1995 constitution. 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 derg s ultimate aim was the creation of a oneparty system. Constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia. Jun 18, 2019 eprdf constitution pdf the ethiopian peoples revolutionary democratic front is a leftist political coalition in ethiopia.
Article 91 specifically states that the constitution is the supreme law of the land. Library of congress federal research division country profile. The peoples democratic republic of elhiopia is a soverei, state whose territory comprisin, the land. The 1994 constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia fdre was also another major reflection of eprdfs consideration of ethnic contradiction as the primary problem in the countrys politics. Derg s state ownership of land and controls all urban and rural land as well as natural resources. The derg became deeply unpopular due to ill sought out policies and mass executions, which sent a. The derg borrowed its ideology from competing marxist parties, all of which arose from the student movement. Micheau introduction emergent and reemergent nationalism seem to have taken center stage in a cast of new worldwide political trends. Democratic republic of ethiopia, and to uphold the honor and di,nity of ethiopian citiun. 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. The constitution of the derg period established one party system called national shengo,and the constitution was based on the 1977. Ethiopia s political transition began in the early 1990s with the fall of the socialist military dictatorship of the derg and the flight of its leader, mengistu hailemariam. In 1987, the third constitution of ethiopia was adopted by the derg and became the first to explicitly.
Arliclt 57 every ethiopian has the duly to obse, the constitution and laws of the people. Students came from all parts of ethiopia, to a greater extent than before. 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. This constitution establishes a federal and democratic state structure. Constitutional history of ethiopia constitutionnet. A federation between ethiopia and eritrea was proclaimed in 1952, but in 1962 ethiopia abrogated the federation and unilaterally annexed the territory. One of them, the ethiopian peoples revolutionary party eprp, believed so strongly in civilian rule that it undertook urban guerrilla war against the military rulers, and anarchy ensued in the following years. Ethiopia is also a member of the following international lending. The 1987 constitution of the republic of the philippines preamble we, the sovereign filipino people, imploring the aid of almighty god, in order to build a just and humane society, and establish a government that shall embody our ideals and aspirations. All ethiopian languages shall enjoy equal state recognition. The peoples democratic republic of ethiopia shall, while ae romplishing the national democratic revolution, lay the foundation for the. This constitution is an expression of their sovereignty.
In the 1930s ethiopia once again confronted an aggressive italy. Ethiopians for the first time in history were members of one community with the same destiny. The derg was established in june 1974 as the coordinating committee of the armed forces, police and territorial army, by lowranking officers of. On january 1, 1975 all banks and insurance companies in ethiopia were nationalized. This was considered as a paradigm shift in the history of ethiopia, because it is a move from unification to one culture to recognizing multiculturalism and acknowledging diversity. Socialist ethiopia 197491 the derg borrowed its ideology from competing marxist parties, all of which arose from the student movement.
Ethiopian constitution the africa center university of pennsylvania. The present revised constitution, together with those international treaties. The constitution during emperor was the first constitution of the country and paved the way for the next coming constitution. Eventually the military was driven out in 1991 by anti derg fighters and with some help from the west the us, the ukthere is a map of ethiopia showing where the anti derg groups were located. Estimates state that there were about a hundred thousand anti derg fighters, but. After seventeen years of civil war, the people of ethiopia saw the dawn of a new era. This set the tone for the adoption and passage of a liberal constitution which recognizes broad individual rights. Accordingly, the ethiopian state shall be called the federal democratic republic of ethiopia. The difference between constitution of ethiopia in derg and. The constitution of the derg period established one party system called national shengo,and the constitution. The exerci of frodioms and ri,hls and the discharge of duties by citizen.
Accordingly 1n june 1974, the derg was created as the coordinating council of the anned forces. Courtsey thomas ofcansky 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. 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. Ethiopia has undergone through different types of local governance in the last half a century. In less than three months, the derg had taken rapid and calculated moves to win over the brood masses and. Based on the recent unrest that has been precipitated by the oromo people in ethiopia, a number of observers such as davison,2015. The constitutional commission had its origins in the institute for the study of ethiopian nationalities, which the provisional military administrative council better known as the derg had established march 1983 to find solutions to problems resulting from ethiopias vast ethnic diversity. Ethnic federalism has been exploited to plant division among ethnic groups so as to institutionalize and facilitate rule by the tplf and other politically affiliated groups, representing a small proportion of the population. The 1994 constitution reflected both a backlash against the dergs ethnic violence and ethiopias multitude of ethnic groups. Constitution constitution in may 1991, the military derg regime was overthrown. Revolution and military government in early 1974, ethiopia entered a period of profound political, economic, and social change, frequently accompanied by violence.
The 1991 transitional charter of ethiopia case western reserve. Topics derg, mengistu collection opensource language english. Ethiopian constitution 1987 pdf 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. The political economy of growth in ethiopia chapter 4 of volume 2 alemayehu geda1 we are pleased to tell you that we have finally submitted the growth project manuscripts to cambridge university press. Pdf weaknesses of ethnic federalism in ethiopia haymi. Less than a month later, on december 20th, the derg issued a proclamation of ethiopian socialism. While restructuring its national political landscape from a feudal imperialist to military dictatorship and now to revolutionary democracy, the. The eprdf consists of four political parties, namely. The derg enjoyed absolute power and enacted any law without any substantive. There were five thousand students in 1976 and eleven thousand by 1980.
All the natives of ethiopia, subjects of the empire, form together the ethiopian. In march 1986, a 343member constitutional commission was formed to draft a new constitution based on the principles of scientific socialism. As had been the case during the derg era, ethiopia ranked at or near the bottom of most. The 1994 constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia. Hence, the reconstruction of the ethiopian state was left in the hands of the eprdf that assumed power after its military victory over the derg in may 1991. Apr 02, 2015 third written constitution which is the 1987 constitution. Strongly committed, in full and free exercise of our right to selfdetermination, to. The difference between constitution of ethiopia in derg and hilesilase. Ethiopian somali region, in defence of the multinational federalism ahmed deeq hussein 112216 ethiopian somali region is either 1st or 2nd largest region, constitutes of the country, and 3rd largest ethnic group with an estimated total population of 5 million. Thus, there was great competition to be admitted to university. The last emperor, haile selassie i, consolidated his power using the 1955 constitution, the second of its type for the country, which gave. The language of these two articles is simple, plain, straightforward, unambiguous and requires no interpretation. The territory of ethiopia, in its entirety, is, from one end to the other, subject to the government of his majesty the emperor.
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