Livelihood Security and Land Tenure Systems in Ethiopia

The article investigates the factors behind the dwindling condition of communal lands and their legal status in Ethiopia in light of the country`s international and regional commitments. As the nation is comprised of an overwhelming proportion of agrarian community, who in addition to their individual farmlands for crop production, are highly dependent on communal land and resources such as timber, firewood, traditional medicine, fodder and thatching grass and places for ritual ceremonies. Currently, a nationwide, communal land on which the life of the rural mass is based on is admitted to be on the brink of literal disappearance. Even though a number of factors ranging from climate change, population growth and others may be ascribed to the dwindling of communal lands and landed resources, this study argues, through a doctrinal analysis, that the denial of legislative recognition on its part, categorically adds fuel to an unfettered extinction. Thus, the writer urges government both at federal and regional (state) level ought to accord sufficient legislative recognition of communal land tenure as well as protection of legitimate tenure rights of the rural poor which has survived for ages. Keywords : communal land; land tenure; land rights; indigenous peoples; rural community; livelihood DOI: 10.7176/JPID/56-01 Publication date: November 30 th 2020