Ethiopia 1994 Constitution

CHAPTER FOUR. STATE STRUCTURE

Article 45. Form of Government

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia shall have a parliamentarian form of government.

Article 46. States of the Federation

1. The Federal Democratic Republic shall comprise of States.
2. States shall be delimited on the basis of the settlement patterns, language, identity and consent of the people concerned.

Article 47. Member States of the Federal Democratic Republic

1. Member States of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia are the following:
   1. The State of Tigray
   2. The State of Afar
   3. The State of Amhara
   4. The State of Oromia
   5. The State of Somalia
   6. The State of Benshangul/Gumuz
   7. The State of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples
   8. The State of the Gambela Peoples
   9. The State of the Harari People
2. Nations, Nationalities and Peoples within the States enumerated in sub-Article 1 of this article have the right to establish, at any time, their own States.
3. The right of any Nation, Nationality or People to form its own state is exercisable under the following procedures:
   1. When the demand for statehood has been approved by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Council of the Nation, Nationality or People concerned, and the demand is presented in writing to the State Council;
   2. When the Council that received the demand has organized a referendum within one year to be held in the Nation, Nationality or People that made the demand;
   3. When the demand for statehood is supported by a majority vote in the referendum;
   4. When the State Council will have transferred its powers to the Nation, Nationality or People that made the demand; and
   5. When the new State created by the referendum without any need for application, directly becomes a member of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
4. Member States of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia shall have equal rights and powers.

Article 48. State Border Changes

1. All State border disputes shall be settled by agreement of the concerned States. Where the concerned States fail to reach agreement, the House of the Federation shall decide such disputes on the basis of settlement patterns and the wishes of the peoples concerned.
2. The House of Federation shall, within a period of two years, render a final decision on a dispute submitted to it pursuant to sub-Article 1 of this Article.

Article 49. Capital City

1. Addis Ababa shall be the capital city of the Federal State
2. The residents of Addis Ababa shall have a full measure of self-government. Particulars shall be determined by law.
3. The Administration of Addis Ababa shall be responsible to the Federal Government.
4. Residents of Addis Ababa shall in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution, be represented in the House of Peoples’ Representatives.
5. The special interest of the State of Oromia in Addis Ababa, regarding the provision of social services or the utilization of natural resources and other similar matters, as well as joint administrative matters arising from the location of Addis Ababa within the State of Oromia, shall be respected. Particulars shall be determined by law.