Ministry of Justice (Ethiopia)
The now abolished Ministry of Justice of Ethiopia once had the authority of federal prosecution and had possessed executive and judicial powers.[1] The ministry was a part of the federal branch of the government, and prosecuted cases that fell within the federal jurisdiction. In 1995, the responsibility for the federal police force and prisons was transferred to the Ministry of Justice after the Ministry of Internal Affairs was abolished.[2] In 2017, it was announced that the Ministry of Justice's affairs would be transitioned into the Federal Attorney General's Office.[3] The last Minister of Justice was Getachew Ambaye promoted to become the country's first Attorney General in 2016.[4]
Introduction
According to Article 16 of Proclamation 691/2010, the Ministry of Justice had the following powers:[5]
- Is chief advisor to the Federal Government on matters of law; Represents the Federal Government in criminal cases falling under the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts; withdraw criminal charges for good causes; follow up the execution of decisions of the courts
- Orders the conduct of investigation where it believes that a crime the adjudication of which falls under the jurisdiction of the federal courts has been committed; orders the discontinuance of an investigation or instructs further investigation on good cause; withdraw criminal charges in accordance with the law;
- Undertakes legal reform studies; carry out codification and consolidation of federal laws, collect Regional State laws and consolidate as necessary
- Assist in the preparation of draft laws when so requested by federal organs and regional states;
- Undertake or order the conduct of investigation where it believes that a crime the adjudication of which falls under the jurisdiction of the federal courts has been committed; direct and supervise the process of the investigation; allow plea bargain; upon the existence of good cause, decide on the discontinuance of an investigation or the carrying out of additional investigation;
- Studies the causes of and the methods of crime prevention; devise ways and means of crime prevention; coordinate the relevant government organs in crime prevention;
- Ensure that witnesses to a criminal case are accorded protection, as necessary;
- Assists victims of crimes or violations of human rights in civil proceedings to claim damages where such victims are unable to institute such claims in federal courts and to follow up the proceeding on their own;
- Institutes or cause the institution of suits or intervene at any stage of the proceedings of such suits before federal and regional state courts, any judicial body or arbitration tribunal where the rights and interests of the public and of the Federal Government so require;
- Registers religious organizations, nonprofit making foreign organizations and, unless specific power is given to other government organs, non-governmental organizations and associations operating in the cities of Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa or in more than one Regional State;
- Follows up, as necessary, the handling of civil suits and claims to which the federal government organs are parties; cause reports-to be submitted to it on same, and ensure that competent staff is assigned for the purpose;
- Issues, supervises and revokes licenses advocates for practicing before federal courts;
- Provides legal education through the use of various methods with a view to raising public legal consciousness in relation to the protection of human rights; cooperate with the appropriate bodies regarding legal education and training;
List of ministers (Post-Occupation in 1942)
Justice Minister | Term of office | Prime Minister | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | Portrait | Name | Took Office | Left Office | |
1 | Ayele Gebre[2][6] | 1939 | 1942 | Betwoded
Wolde Tzaddick | |
2 | Aie-Masfin Andargatchew Massai[7][8][9] | 1943 | 1948 | Betwoded
Wolde Tzaddick | |
3 | Wolde Giyorgis Wolde Yohannes | 1949 | 1955 | Ras Betwoded | |
4 | Abiye Abebe[2] | 1958 | 1961 | Ras | |
5 | Dejazmatch Zewdie Gebre-Salassie[10] | 1961 | 1963 | Tsehafi Taezaz | |
6 | Mammo Tadesse[11] | 1966 | 1967 | Tsehafi Taezaz | |
7 | Akale Worq Habte Wold[12][13] | 1969 | 1974 | Tsehafi Taezaz | |
8 | Belachew Asrat[14] | 1975 | 1975 | Post Abolished (12 September 1974–10 September 1987) by the Derg | |
9 | Amanuel Amde-Mikael[15] | 1975 | 1978 | ||
10 | Zegeye Asfaw[16][17] | 1978 | 1979 | ||
11 | Zegeye Asfaw[18] | 1980 | 1980 | ||
12 | Getachew Kibret[19] | 1980 | 1983 | ||
13 | Emanuel Amde Michael[20] | 1984 | 1986 | ||
14 | Wondayen Mehretu[21][22] | 1986 | 1991 | Fikre Selassie Wogderess | |
15 | Shiferaw Wolde-Michael[23] | 1991 | 1992 | Tamrat Layne | |
16 | Mehitma Solomon[24] | 1992 | 1998 | Meles Zenawi | |
17 | Wolde Werede[25] | 1998 | 2001 | Meles Zenawi | |
18 | Harka Haroyu[26][27] | 2001 | 2008 | Meles Zenawi | |
19 | Berhan Hailu[28] | 2008 | 3 June 2013 | Meles Zenawi | |
20 | Getachew Ambaye[29][30][4] | 4 June 2013 | 11 May 2016 | Hailemariam Desalegn |
See also
References
- ^ "Establishing the Attorney-General: Reconstructing the justice system or heralding a new one?". www.thereporterethiopia.com. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ^ a b c Shinn, David H.; Ofcansky, Thomas P. (2013-04-11). Historical Dictionary of Ethiopia. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810874572.
- ^ Giorgis, Abebe Wolde (2017-03-23). "Ethiopia: Transitioning Ministry of Justice to Federal Attorney General". The Ethiopian Herald (Addis Ababa). Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ^ a b "Ethiopia's Former Justice Minister Appointed as Attorney General". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ^ "UPDATE: Introduction to the Ethiopian Legal System and Legal Research - GlobaLex". www.nyulawglobal.org. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ^ Marcus, Harold G.; Page, Melvin Eugene; Spaulding, Jay (1998). Personality and Political Culture in Modern Africa: Studies Presented to Professor Harold G. Marcus. African Studies Center, Boston University. ISBN 9780915118168.
- ^ "ETHIOPIA - The Solomonic Dynasty GENEALOGY". www.royalark.net. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ^ The Who's who of the Allied Governments and Allied Trade & Industry. Allied Publications. 1944.
- ^ Cang, Joel (1948). United Nations Who's who in Government and Industry. Allied Publications.
- ^ "THE WORLD BANK GROUP ARCHIVES PUBLIC DISCLOSURE AUTHORIZED" (PDF). World Bank Group. 2012.
- ^ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. 1966:Sept.-Dec." HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ^ London, Africa Research Bureau; Ltd, Africa Research (1969). Africa Research Bulletin. Blackwell.
- ^ Services, United States Dept of State Office of Media (1972). Background Notes. Department of State, Bureau of Public Affairs, Office of Media Services.
- ^ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. 1975:Jan.-Mar." HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ^ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. 1975:Oct.-Dec." HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ^ Service, British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring (1978). Summary of World Broadcasts: Non-Arab Africa.
- ^ Sub-Saharan Africa Report. Foreign Broadcast Information Service. 1979.
- ^ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. 1980Jan,Mar-June". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ^ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. Nov-Dec 1980". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ^ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. Jan-Apr 1984". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ^ Country Report: Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti. The Unit. 1986.
- ^ Africa Research Bulletin: Political series. Africa Research Limited. 1987.
- ^ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. 1991July-Dec". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ^ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. 1992". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ^ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. Jan-Apr 1998". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ^ "Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. Jan. -Apr. 2002". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ^ "Ethiopia Chiefs of State 2004 - Flags, Maps, Economy, Geography, Climate, Natural Resources, Current Issues, International Agreements, Population, Social Statistics, Political System". www.immigration-usa.com. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ^ "Justice Minister Berhan Hailu sacked after MPs rebuke | Horn Affairs". Horn Affairs. 2013-05-11. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ^ "Ethiopian PM names new ministers | IOL News". Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ^ Birhaner, De (2015-10-06). "Hailemariam's 30 ministers are same old but 8 - See the List - De Birhan". De Birhan. Retrieved 2018-06-28.