Transitional Justice Takes Root after Delays

Draft laws completed, joint platform launched to support the implementation process Ethiopia has completed drafting the legal frameworks required to implement its national transitional justice policy, with the Ministry of Justice preparing to release the draft laws for public review as a newly established government-led civil society forum faces questions over independence, inclusivity, and public participation. Justice Minister Hana Arayaselassie announced that the draft laws will be made public in the coming days, paving the way for months of public consultations across Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, and regional states. Speaking at the launch of a joint consultative forum on Friday, Hana noted that the drafting process incorporated input from more than 80 public and stakeholder forums nationwide, alongside recommendations from the recently concluded National Dialogue Commission. “After completing minor refinements based on National Dialogue feedback, the draft laws will be published for public review,” Hana said. Although the Council of Ministers approved the overarching transitional justice policy in 2024, the subsequent delay in its implementation has been dedicated to meticulously preparing the legal frameworks necessary to establish the institutions envisaged under the policy, the minister explained. The proposed frameworks outline the creation of several core bodies, including a Truth and Social Cohesion Commission tasked with addressing past human rights violations through truth-seeking, reconciliation, amnesties, and reparations; an independent Special Prosecutor’s Office and a dedicated court bench designed to handle serious human rights violations; and an Institutional Reform Commission mandated to introduce structural changes to prevent the recurrence of abuses. Furthermore, the draft legislation will define the precise sequencing and operational phases of these institutions. Hana emphasized that addressing past abuses through a combination of formal, traditional, and truth-seeking mechanisms is critical to achieving sustainable peace, particularly in conflict-affected areas. To support the rollout, the Ministry of Justice has established a joint platform uniting government officials and civil society organizations (CSOs) to drive public awareness, documentation, and civic engagement. The Ministry will chair the forum, with the Authority for Civil Society Organizations serving as vice-chair. Additionally, a seven-member coordinating committee was elected to organize platform activities, comprising Ameha Mekonnen (Lawyers for Human Rights), Tesfaye Gemechu (Ethiopian Human Rights Council), Mesud Gebeyehu (Coalition of Ethiopian Human Rights Organizations), Saba Gebremedihin (Network of Ethiopian Women’s Associations), Genet Seyum (Ethiopian Women Federation), Feven Araya (Ethiopian Women Rights Advocates), and Muse Tilahun (Ethiopian Lawyers with Disabilities Association). Despite these milestones, the forum’s government-led structure drew immediate scrutiny regarding whether CSOs can maintain their independence while collaborating under a ministry-chaired platform. Participants questioned whether government leadership might undermine public trust in civil society’s role within a process that demands absolute credibility. Responding to these concerns, Awol Sultan, director of the Ministry of Justice’s Human Rights Directorate, assured participants that organizations would retain full operational independence and mission integrity. He stated that the ministry possesses neither the intent nor the legal basis to interfere, defining its role strictly as a facilitator of cooperation. Awol added that the seven-member committee will act purely in a coordination capacity, and announced plans for regional justice offices to establish similar local mechanisms. Additional concerns focused on long-term institutional sustainability, funding capacity, and public comprehension of complex transitional justice concepts such as truth-telling, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Stakeholders called for tailored capacity-building programs suited to Ethiopia’s unique sociopolitical landscape. The inclusion of conflict-affected communities—particularly in the Tigray region—also emerged as a pressing concern. Solomon Ambaye, executive director of Safer Ethiopia, questioned how the government plans to guarantee Tigray’s active participation, noting past exclusions due to shifting political dynamics. He also stressed the need for explicit prioritization of reconstruction, rehabilitation, and conflict prevention. Further questions were raised regarding whether the coordinating committee’s demographic makeup adequately represents marginalized populations and violence-prone regions. With the draft laws poised for public release, Ethiopia enters a critical phase of its transitional justice journey. While the upcoming consultations offer an avenue for broader civic input, the initial debates underscore deep-seated challenges in securing genuine civil society independence, protecting conflict-affected voices, and successfully translating policy frameworks into credible action.