The Ethiopian parliament has enacted a new Rural Land Use and Management Law which revises an outdated land use regulation from 18 years ago.
The new law expands the rights of farmers, animal caretakers, and nomadic herders, with a specific focus on ensuring women’s land rights.
It introduces penalties for illegal land transactions, imposing up to 5 years of imprisonment for those found guilty of illegal buying or selling of land, as well as for unauthorized entry onto private, government, or public land.
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The law addresses land rights within the context of marriage, stipulating that all spouses of a remarried farmer will have rights to the land. It also ensures that in polygamous marriages, due to cultural or religious practices, the land rights of all wives are safeguarded.
