Legislative Protection of Property Rights in Ethiopia: An Overview

Abstract

There are ambiguities, inconsistencies, gaps and outdated features in the
legislative protection of some property rights in Ethiopia. Moreover, there is
the bestowal of wide and undue discretion to various administrative authorities
without judicial scrutiny. These problems clearly lead to discretionary and
arbitrary administrative decisions and inconsistent court rulings thereby posing
insecurity in the protection of property rights. Well-specified property rights
stimulate private investment by encouraging property rights holders to invest
on their property and they further facilitate the transfer of property to its most
efficient user in the context of win-win equitable exchange. There is thus the
need to enhance the clarity and coherence of Ethiopia’s property law regime
that especially regulates land use rights, expropriation, intellectual property,
share purchases, and the transfer of business premises.

Key words: Property rights, land law, expropriation, intellectual property, Ethiopia