Mizan Law Review

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• Comment: Filing Suit in the Wrong Court and its Effect in Interrupting Period of Limitation

  Although the Federal Supreme Court rendered a sound decision on the effect of filing suit in the wrong jurisdiction with regard to the period of limitation, it failed to provide detailed analysis and reasoning. The importance of reasoning in judgment is well known. However, the Supreme Court Cassation Division in this case arrived at conclusion without deeply exploring the issues involved and without adequate analysis.

• Comment: The Principle of Universal Jurisdiction for Massive Human Right Violation of the Past: An International and Ethiopian Perspective

  Confronting egregious human rights violations and repressive past is an arduous and necessary task to end the cycle of impunity. Bearing in mind Ethiopia‟s notable contribution to the peace and security in the Horn of Africa and beyond, Ethiopia and the region at large can benefit from showing support to institutions that aim to establish accountability for grave human rights violation. Ethiopia needs to champion and redefine its support of accountability by exercising universal jurisdiction. Where the domestic judicial system is unable or unwilling to deal with grave crimes committed within its national jurisdiction or against its nationals, other countries‟ institutions can serve as safeguard and fallback options to establish accountability, thereby significantly contributing to the protection of human rights. Thus, it is very crucial to the fight against impunity that Ethiopian laws providing for universal jurisdiction should be set in motion. In this comment, the scope, development, role and challenges of the principle of universal jurisdiction with proper reference to practical cases are discussed. Furthermore, thes cope of universal jurisdiction under Ethiopian law is compared with international law and African model Universal Jurisdiction Law to indicate its implication to the Horn of Africa.

• Comment: The Role of Courts in Safeguarding the Best Interest of the Child (Amharic)

  The best interest of the child is a multifaceted principle governing children’s rights. This principle is tri-dimensional which serves as (i) human right, (ii) a mechanism of evaluation of other rights, and (iii) as a means of interpreting other rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Ethiopia has ratified the CRC. As the judiciary is the ultimate guardian of human rights including the rights of children, allowing the judiciary to safeguard such rights –when it adjudicates cases that affect the interest of children– is one of the mechanisms of implementing the right. Pursuant to Article 13(1) of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Constitution, the Judiciary, among others, is legally entrusted with the function of enforcing and respecting human rights. This comment explores the law relating to the interpretation and application of the best interest of the child in Ethiopia. Primary and secondary data sources indicate that there is no clear assessment and criteria-specific procedure on the use and evaluation of the best interest of the child. Consequently, there is no uniform interpretation and application of the best interest of the child by courts.

• Amicable Dispute Resolution in Civil and Commercial Matters in Ethiopia: Negotiation, Conciliation and Compromise

  Amicable dispute settlement methods play a major role in the resolution of civil and commercial disputes. These mechanisms present advantages to the parties as compared to arbitration and litigation. The Civil Code of 1960 contains provisions on Conciliation and Compromise, which set out the minimum legal framework for practical use by disputing parties in civil and commercial matters. Conciliation and compromise are in the main regulated under Arts. 3318-3324 and 3307-3317 respectively. The Civil Procedure Code of 1965 also consists of several provisions on compromise (Arts. 274-277). Generally, disputes are legally and conveniently amenable and better resolved through these amicable dispute settlement methods. However, whether they are put in use entirely depends on the free will of the disputing parties‟. They can only be resorted to whenever the disputing parties commit themselves to use them in their contractual agreements. For certain other disputes, these amicable dispute settlement mechanisms are compulsory; in such cases, policy rationale dictates that disputes of such nature should be swiftly resolved through amicable dispute settlement methods. Some other disputes are, however, vested exclusively in the courts. This article distinguishes arbitration from conciliation. It is discussed whether conciliation differs from mediation. Attempt has also been made to shed light on the nature and application of concilio-arbitration in Ethiopia. The legal framework underpinning negotiation, conciliation, and compromise is expounded. Furthermore, the legal lacunae in relation to conciliation is addressed.

• Sense and Nonsense in the Regulation of Equipment Financing Business in Ethiopia

  The discourse about equipment financing (financial leasing) business is not as to whether it is useful; but it is about how to create the best possible investment climate for the growth and expansion of the sector; that is how to maximize the economic gains in terms of facilitating alternative access to financing for businesses. Equipment financing or financial leasing is one of the alternative mechanisms of solving financing needs of businesses and individuals. It combines the attributes of lending and leasing, hence the name finance leasing or lease financing. It involves lending equipment (instead of lending the funds needed to purchase it) with the possibility of eventual ownership of the equipment by the borrower. Although equipment financing and leasing existed in Ethiopia over a long period of time, a detailed law on the subject was introduced only recently. However, the new regulatory regime which placed the financial leasing sector under the regulation of the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) did not stimulate the emergence of financial leasing companies as intended. It brought about the creation of big government owned leasing companies whose formation and operation is rather politically driven than supported by economic rationales. Much of the reason for the lack of enthusiasm from the private sector seems to be the discouraging regulatory environment. Therefore, the complex and cumbersome regulatory framework should be simplified if financial leasing companies are to flourish and play a meaningful role as alternative sources of financing.

• The Quest for Identity and Self-Determination in the SNNP Region of Ethiopia

  The rich ethnic diversity in the SNNP region is being managed by different mechanisms of constitutional, institutional, and political practice. Yet, this has not been able to contain new questions of identity, not only seeking for recognition as a distinct ethnic group, but also a desire to establish ethnic territorial administrations. Moreover, ethnic groups that are already recognized are also laying claims to various self-determination rights, inter alia, to territorial autonomy, equitable participation, and the redrawing of internal (ethnic) boundaries. Based on legal analysis of cases from the SNNP region, the article critically discusses the quest for identity and self-determination, and provides an overview of the experience of the region. In dealing with the existing dilemma, we argue that there is a need to maintain the balance between constitutional rights to identity recognition and self-determination with the threat of ethnic and territorial fragmentations.

• The Procedure for the Creation of New Regional States under the FDRE Constitution: Some Overlooked Issues

  The Ethiopian Federation which was created by the 1995 Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) Constitution had nine member states and one city administration. Apart from the creation of Dire Dawa as a city administration, no new state has been introduced in the Ethiopian federation since the adoption of the Constitution. However, several ethnic-based Zonal administrations in the country‟s Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP) region are now demanding to form their own regional states. Apparently, the demands are justified under Article 47(2) of the 1995 Ethiopian constitution which follows a purely ethnic-centered approach by giving “each nation, nationality and people” living in the nine States of the federation “the right to establish their own States at any time.” However, since this right has so far never been exercised in practice, the new demands are creating anxiety in some quarters and drawing a growing attention to the constitutional procedure for the creation of new states. This article aims to critically examine the relevant constitutional provisions dealing with the issue of creation of new states. Drawing insights from some other federations, we argue that the ethnic-centered approach taken under the FDRE Constitution for the creation of new states overlooks several important issues such as economic viability, administrative efficiency, equity, sustainable peace, and resilience of the federal system.

• Towards a Better Commercial Arbitration: Should Ethiopia Ratify the New York Convention?

  The 1958 New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral awards is currently ratified by 161 states. The Convention gives a visa for arbitral awards made in a Convention state and guarantees enforcement of the award elsewhere except on few grounds. It imposes obligations on states and their courts to recognize and enforce foreign arbitral awards and arbitration agreements. It also imposes on courts the obligation to stay proceeding with a matter subject to the arbitration agreement. Ethiopia has not yet ratified the NYC. This article aims at demonstrating the challenges and prospects of ratification of the Convention by Ethiopia. I argue that by ratifying the Convention, Ethiopia would be able to, inter alia, increase trade and investment, get access to lower interest rates and rates of return, improve its international image, improve on competition for trade and investment, improve its arbitration system, decrease caseloads of courts and hasten its move towards the accession to WTO. These factors show that it is in the country's interest to ratify the Convention and domesticate it through the instrumentality of the UNCITRAL Model Law.

• Competing Water Resource Demands in Ethiopia's Federal System: Infancy of the Law toward Integrated Management

  The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Constitution confines the power of regional states over water to administration of watercourse that flows within their respective territories. Various proclamations introduce an integrated approach to water resources management through the application of proper and integrated master planning. To this end, a new institutional framework is established through the creation of Basins‟ Development Authority at national level. The previously established Basin High Councils and Authorities were implementing integrated water management within their respective basins and the powers and obligations of the basin based high councils and authorities are transferred to the newly established National Basin High Council and Basins Development Authority. Some adjustments are necessary due to federalism and issues related to the constitutional framework of water resources that have been overlooked. When the Water Resources Management Proclamation and other water laws are read together with the various provisions of the FRDE Constitution, they lack clarity save the power of the federal government to enact framework legislation over water resources within states‟ territories. Works undertaken by the federal profit-oriented public enterprises transforming water into an economic good on the lands that are administered by the regional states is an area of on-going controversy. I argue that regional states should claim their constitutional right to levy and collect land use fee from profit making federal public enterprises that are engaged in transforming water into economic good within the framework of integrated water resources management system.

• Ethiopia's Justice System Reform at Crossroads: Impediments relating to Institutional Continuity, Ethnic Politics and the Land Regime

Featured documents

• Income Tax Assignment under the Ethiopian Constitution: Issues to Worry About

  The revenue provisions of the Ethiopian Constitution are striking on a number of levels. By and large, the revenue provisions do not evince conformity with what the theories of fiscal federalism generally prescribe in the area of assignment of revenue powers. In addition, the revenue provisions of...

• Economics of copyright:challenges and perspectives

  This article outlines the prominence of economic analysis of copyright, not only within the academic community, but also in the legal practice. The successful cooperation of law and economics in the field of copyright calls for advanced microeconomic analytical skills and a high level of legal...

• Trade Facilitation in Ethiopia: The Role of WTO Accession in Domestic Reform

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• The Internet and Ethiopia's IP Law, Internet Governance and Legal Education: An Overview

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• Comment: Theorising Nigerian Crime Problems

  This comment presents an overview of criminological theories of crime and examines some contemporary crime problems in Nigeria against the backdrop of relevant theories. It also analyses society’s response to each crime problem in the form of government policies and legislation. The paper argues...

• Comment: Some thoughts on the organization of legal Practice in Ethiopia

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• Res Nullius vs. Res Communis in Matters of Communal Lands of Smallholder Farmers in Ethiopia

  Communal land is among the key factors in the enhancement of rural livelihood because it enables mixed farming practices. Although communal lands are prime sources of livelihood in rural farming communities, empirical evidence shows gaps in their legal recognition and protection in Ethiopia. There...

• Comment: Filing Suit in the Wrong Court and its Effect in Interrupting Period of Limitation

  Although the Federal Supreme Court rendered a sound decision on the effect of filing suit in the wrong jurisdiction with regard to the period of limitation, it failed to provide detailed analysis and reasoning. The importance of reasoning in judgment is well known. However, the Supreme Court...

• Learning to Live with Conflicts: Federalism as a Tool of Conflict Management in Ethiopia -- An Overview

  This article explores the relationship between federalism and conflict in the light of the experience of the federal experiment in contemporary Ethiopia. By reinforcing the truism in federal studies that federalism is not a panacea to the ailments of divided societies that are prone to conflict, it ...

• Unilateral trade sanctions as a means to combat human rights abuses:legal and factual appraisal