Ethiopia: Stop mass forced evictions

Thousands of people across Ethiopia—including in the capital, Addis Ababa, and 58 other cities and towns—have been forcibly evicted from their homes under the Corridor Development Project (CDP). These evictions violate international human rights law, which requires genuine consultation, adequate notice, and fair compensation—none of which have been provided.

Forced evictions are a serious human rights violation. The Ethiopian authorities must immediately halt all ongoing evictions, suspend the CDP, and launch an independent review of the project to assess compliance with international standards, including the right to adequate housing.

Here’s what you can do:

Write to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia urging him to:

• Immediately stop the forced evictions.
• Suspend the Corridor Development Project until a thorough, independent human rights assessment is conducted.
• Put in place safeguards to prevent further human rights violations.
• Adopt a moratorium on mass evictions until adequate safeguards are established.
• Ensure that all evictions comply with international human rights standards.

Origins and expansion of the corridor development project

Forced evictions in Addis Ababa began after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched the Corridor Development Project (CDP) in December 2022. The project includes a grand palace and is promoted by authorities as an urban modernization effort. The first phase began on December 29, 2022, and resulted in the destruction of heritage sites. The second phase, announced in October 2024, spans 2,000 hectares of land in Addis Ababa and triggered widespread evictions.

Authorities have also reported implementing similar corridor development projects in 58 other cities and urban centers across Ethiopia, though the actual number is likely higher. While the projects are framed as development initiatives, they have caused significant social and human rights impacts that have been consistently downplayed or silenced by the authorities.

Scale and impact of forced evictions

Amnesty International has not yet determined the total number of people forcibly evicted in Addis Ababa’s Bole and Lemi Kura sub-cities in November 2024. However, available information suggests that the true number of affected individuals is likely much higher than current findings. Satellite imagery from early November 2024 to early February 2025 confirmed that at least 29 hectares of densely built-up areas were cleared during this time. It is estimated that 872 people were forcibly evicted from these two areas by the Addis Ababa City Administration.

Evictions have been carried out in the capital and in dozens of other cities without meaningful consultation, adequate notice, or any form of compensation. Individuals have been removed from their homes with no legal remedies or alternative housing options provided.

Human rights violations and legal failures

The Ethiopian authorities have failed to implement essential safeguards required under international human rights law. These include consultation with affected communities, advance notice, legal recourse, and access to alternative housing. As a result, many people—particularly those at heightened risk of marginalization such as children, older persons, and people with disabilities—have been left homeless and in extremely vulnerable conditions.

Forced evictions carried out without these safeguards violate Ethiopia’s obligations under international human rights standards, particularly those relating to the right to adequate housing and protection from arbitrary displacement. Despite the scale and severity of these violations, authorities have continued the implementation of the Corridor Development Project without pause.

Please take action as soon as possible until November 7, 2025. The UA will be duly updated should there be the need for further action.