Civil Code TITLE II CAPACITY OF PERSONS Chapter 5. Foreigners

Chapter 5. Foreigners

Art. 389.- Assimilation to Ethiopians.

(1)    Foreigners shall be fully assimilated to Ethiopian subjects as regards the enjoyment and exercise of civil rights.

(2)    All rights the exercise of which does  not imply any participation in the government or administration of the country shall be considered to be civil rights.

(3)    Nothing in this Article shall affect such special conditions as may be prescribe regarding the granting to a foreigner of a permit to work in Ethiopia.

Art. 390.- Restriction regarding ownership of immovable  property.- 1. Principle.

No foreigner may own immovable property situate in Ethiopia except in accordance with an Imperial Order.

Art. 391.- 2. Duty to sell.

Any foreigner who is found to own immovable property in good faith but does not hold such immovable property in accordance with an Imperial Order issued under Arty. 390 shall be required by the competent authority to dispose of such immovable property t an Ethiopian within a period of six months.

Art. 392. -3. Penalties.

(1)    Where a foreigners has failed to dispose of such immovable property to an Ethiopian within the period provided in Art. 391, the immovable property shall be seized and sold by the competent authority.

(2)    The proceeds of the  sale shall be paid to the foreigner less twenty percent which shall be deducted as a penalty and with a view to covering the expenses of sale.

(3)    The per sent only shall be deducted where the foreigner acquired the immovable property by succession.

Art. 393.- Rights assimilated to rights in ownership.

The provisions of Art. 390-392 shall apply where a foreigner acquires rights or usage for a period exceeding fifty years or a like interest terminable on death.