Ethiopian Legislative Updates: Amendments and Repeals in 2016 E.C. (2024-25)

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Ethiopia’s legal landscape saw significant changes during the 2016 Ethiopian Calendar (E.C.) year, corresponding to 2024-2025 in the Gregorian calendar. A series of new proclamations introduced substantial amendments to existing laws and led to the outright repeal of others, reflecting ongoing efforts to refine governance, economic frameworks, and social administration. This article provides an overview of the key legislative developments concerning amendments and repeals during this period.

I. Amending Proclamations and Amended Proclamations

The following proclamations introduced specific changes to existing laws:

Proclamation No. 1307/2023: Amending the Ethiopian Institution of Ombudsman Establishment Proclamation

This proclamation, officially titled “Proclamation to Amend the Establishment No. 1142/2019 of the Ethiopian Institution of Ombudsman Proclamation No. 1307/2023,” primarily revises the foundational Proclamation No. 1142/2019. The amendments are extensive, impacting several articles within the original ombudsman establishment law:

  • Article 2: Repealed and replaced Sub-Articles (2), (4), (10), (12), (15), and (17), while also adding a new Sub-Article 2(17).
  • Article 4: Repealed and replaced in its entirety.
  • Article 5(2): Repealed and replaced.
  • Article 6: Repealed and replaced.
  • Article 7: Repealed and replaced Sub-Articles (1), (3), (4), and (10).
  • Article 10: Repealed and replaced Sub-Articles (1) through (6).
  • Article 11: Repealed and replaced.
  • Article 12: Repealed and replaced Sub-Articles 3(d), (4), and (5).
  • Article 16: Repealed and replaced.
  • Article 17(2)(a): Repealed and replaced.
  • Article 18 and Article 24: Included new Sub-Articles (6) and (7) respectively.
  • Article 30 and Article 31(1): Repealed and replaced.
  • Article 38: A new Article 38 was added next to the existing Article 37, leading to the renumbering of existing Articles 38 to 46 as Articles 39 to 47.
  • Article 41: A new Sub-Article 41(3) was added.

Proclamation No. 1336/2024: Amending Expropriation, Compensation, and Resettlement Proclamation

Titled “A Proclamation to Amend Expropriation of Land Holdings for Public Purpose, Payments of Compensation and Resettlement (Amendment) Proclamation,” this legislation amends Proclamation No. 1161/2019, which governs the expropriation of land for public purposes, compensation, and resettlement. Key changes include:

  • Article 9: Deleted and replaced Sub-Articles (2) and (3).
  • Article 20: Added new Sub-Articles (3) and (5), renumbering the existing Sub-Article (3) as (4).
  • Article 23: Added a new Sub-Article (5).
  • Article 26: Added a new provision as Sub-Article (3).
  • Article 27: Added a new provision as Sub-Article (2), making the existing provision Sub-Article (1).

Proclamation No. 1339/2024: Amending the Immigration Proclamation

This proclamation, “A Proclamation to Amend the Immigration Proclamation No. 354/2003,” updates the long-standing Immigration Proclamation No. 354/2003. Notable amendments include:

  • Article 2: Deleted and replaced Sub-Article (2).
  • Article 2: Added new Sub-Articles (6), (7), and (8) next to Sub-Article (5).
  • General Stipulation: Stipulated that “the Authority” shall be read as “the Service” throughout the Proclamation.
  • Article 3: Deleted and replaced Sub-Article (2).
  • Article 7: Deleted and replaced in its entirety.
  • Article 13(1): Added a new paragraph (e) next to paragraph (d).
  • Article 16(2): Added a new paragraph (c) next to paragraph (b), renumbering the existing paragraph (c) as (d).
  • Article 17: Deleted and replaced.
  • Article 19-24: Re-arranged existing Articles 19-24 as 20-25 (next to Article 18).
  • Article 21: Added a new Article 21 next to Article 20, leading to the re-arrangement of existing Articles 21 to 25 (as re-arranged by Article 7) to be Articles 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26.
  • Article 23 (as re-arranged): Deleted and replaced.

Proclamation No. 1342/2024: Amending Export Trade Duty Incentive Schemes Proclamation

Titled “A Proclamation to Amend Export Trade Duty Incentive Schemes Proclamation No.768/2011,” this legislation modifies Proclamation No. 768/2011, which governs incentives for export trade duties. The amendments include:

  • Article 9(2): Deleted.
  • Article 10: Deleted and replaced Sub-Articles (3), (4), and (5).
  • Article 12: Deleted and replaced Sub-Articles (3), (4), and (5).
  • Article 15: Deleted and replaced Sub-Articles (3), (4), and (5).
  • Article 23(2): Repealed and replaced.
  • Article 24: Repealed and replaced with a new Article 25.
  • Article 27: Repealed and replaced with a new Article 28.

II. Repealed and Repealing Proclamations

The 2016 E.C. also saw the outright repeal of several key proclamations, indicating a significant overhaul in specific sectors:

  • Proclamation No. 1314/2024 (Federal Government-Owned Enterprise Proclamation): This new proclamation repeals the Public Enterprises Proclamation No. 25/1992.
  • Proclamation No. 1322/2024 (Special Economic Zone Proclamation): This proclamation repeals both the Industrial Park Proclamation No. 886/2015 and the Industry Park Regulation No. 417/2017.
  • Proclamation No. 1324/2024 (Rural Land Administration and Use Proclamation): This new law repeals the Federal Rural Land Administration and Use Proclamation No. 456/2005.
  • Proclamation No. 1333/2024 (The Federal Public Procurement and Property Administration Proclamation): This legislation repeals and replaces the Ethiopian Federal Government Public Procurement and Property Administration Proclamation No. 649/2009.
  • Proclamation No. 1334/2024 (Proclamation to Determine Public Holidays and Celebration of Public Holidays Proclamation): This new proclamation repeals Proclamation Number 16/1975 (the Proclamation for the determination of National Holidays and rest days), including its amendments by Proclamation numbers 28/1975 and 29/1995, with the exception of the section dealing with rest days.
  • Proclamation No. 1341/2024 (Value Added Tax Proclamation): This new VAT proclamation repeals the Value Added Tax Proclamation No. 285/2002 (as amended), without prejudice to Article 74 of the new proclamation.
  • Proclamation No. 1343/2024 (A Proclamation Issued to Provide for the Development and Enforcement Framework of Ethiopian Standards Proclamation): This proclamation repeals The Ethiopian Standards Agency Establishment Council of Ministers Regulation No. 193/2010.
  • Proclamation No. 1353/2025 (Federal Civil Servants Proclamation): This comprehensive new proclamation repeals several previous instruments, including:
    • The Federal Civil Servants Proclamation No. 1064/2017.
    • Any government office established by Executive Organs Proclamation No. 1263/2021 that previously had its own Civil Servant Administration Proclamation and Council of Ministers Regulation, and relevant laws whose provisions were excluded from the former Federal Civil Servants Proclamation No. 1064/2017.
    • The Ethiopian Management Institute establishment proclamation No. 278/1985 and the Council of Ministers Regulation No. 181/1994.

Conclusion

The legislative activity in Ethiopia during 2016 E.C. (2024-25) demonstrates a dynamic legal environment. The numerous amendments indicate a fine-tuning of existing frameworks, particularly in areas like ombudsman operations, land expropriation, immigration, and export incentives. Simultaneously, the significant number of outright repeals, especially concerning government enterprises, special economic zones, rural land administration, public procurement, public holidays, VAT, and civil service, points to a strategic restructuring and modernization of core legal instruments. These changes collectively aim to enhance the efficiency, clarity, and relevance of Ethiopia’s legal and administrative systems.

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