Access to land in Ethiopia

Abstract: The objective of this thesis is to examine rural populations' access to land in Ethiopia, in the light of land regulations and different obstacles. Using a qualitative research design, based on a literature study, the following topics will be discussed; land regulation, state-led industrial development, villagization program and land-grab. In conclusion, the regulatory framework forbids locals to sell and exchange land and there are restrictions on land rental and leasing contracts. Land-grab is believed to cover 4 million hectares which represent 10 percent of Ethiopia's total agricultural area. In order to use land for state-led industrial development and foreign large-scale land investments, the state has removed locals from different areas, using methods such as expropriation, redistribution of land and forceful removal through the villagization program. No legal framework protects locals from the state’s processes. As areas used for industrial development and foreign large-scale land investments expand, local people loose access to land. As a result, conflicts and violence have erupted between locals' and actors' involved in land-grab.