Amnesty International Monday called for an immediate halt to Ethiopia’s ambitious Corridor Development Project (CDP) which led to grave human rights violations and mass forced evictions across the country.
In a report issued on April 14, Amnesty International stated that the CDP, a sweeping urban development initiative launched in late 2022, is currently active in 58 cities including Addis Ababa, Jimma, Hawassa, Jigjiga, and Dessie.
Those who have been affected by the unpopular project filed allegations of forced displacements, destruction of homes, and lack of adequate legal safeguards.
In its new report, Amnesty International highlighted that at least 872 individuals were forcibly evicted in November 2024 from Bole and Lemi Kura sub-cities of Addis Ababa alone.
“All the surveyed households… stated that they did not receive any compensation and are all now sheltered in rented houses,” the report confirmed.
The second phase of the CDP, launched in October 2024, spans 131.99 kilometers and has already impacted dense residential zones.
Government officials estimate that 15,000 homes have been demolished in Jimma alone — a figure Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed controversially downplayed, suggesting “evictees… have not demanded compensation.”
Others recounted heartbreaking consequences: children dropping out of school due to lost income, and mental health deteriorating amid displacement.
“My child is faced with mental health issues – and my entire family. We lost hope in the government,” said one of those evicted.
Despite claims by Urban Development Minister Chaltu Sani that demolitions have been halted, Amnesty’s report shows ongoing evictions without adequate consultation, legal notice, or alternative housing.
The organisation accuses the Ethiopian government of violating international law, including provisions under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the African Union’s Kampala Convention.