A member of Parliament has pressed the Minister of Urban and Infrastructure Development over a recent Amnesty International report highlighting human rights abuses during the Corridor Development Project, which spans at least 58 cities across Ethiopia.
Last week, Amnesty International published a detailed report on the ongoing project, urging the government to pause its activities until a human rights impact assessment is conducted. The report also called for effective remedies for those forcibly evicted, proper compensation, and safeguards to ensure compliance with international human rights standards during any future evictions.
While Chaltu Sani, minister of Urban and Infrastructure Development, was presenting a performance report to Parliament this week, MP Abebaw Desalew, a member of the National Amhara Movement (NaMA) opposition party, demanded to know how the government plans to address Amnesty’s findings.
Abebaw stated that the Corridor Development Project has drawn widespread complaints from the public, media, and human rights organizations. He questioned the government’s willingness to implement Amnesty’s recommendations, including conducting impact assessments, providing effective remedies for forcibly evicted individuals, ensuring proper compensation, and implementing safeguards to align with international human rights standards.
In her report, the Minister noted that the government has identified 63 cities for the Corridor Development Project, with work already underway in 45.
Abebaw criticized the relocation process, stating that it lacked due process, failed to engage in meaningful discussions with affected residents, and provided insufficient notice for relocation. He highlighted the severe consequences of the evictions, including disrupted lives, fractured social ties, and children being forced out of school.
In response, the Minister defended the project, questioning why Amnesty International was concerned about human rights issues when many affected individuals had previously lived in makeshift attics, shanty villages, and undignified neighborhoods. She emphasized that the project is not just about development but also about delivering justice and securing democracy.
Amnesty International’s report, based on research conducted in January and February, revealed that at least 872 people were forcibly evicted from Bole and Lemi Kura sub-cities in November 2024 by the Addis Ababa City Administration.
The report detailed that the evictions included 254 homeowners across 47 households, affecting 114 children and 13 elderly individuals, as well as 618 tenants.
