City Backs Down on "Land" Transactions

The ban imposed to conduct transactions with "land" transactions was altered last week, showing officials of the Addis Abeba City Administration backing down from their earlier position.

The city administration had suspended property transactions through individuals granted powers of attorney in the owners' absence. Last month, the Chief of the city cabinet, Tilahun Worku, ordered district officials not to provide services to lessees or property owners unless they appear in person before authentication officials. He blamed "fraudulent" real estate and land lease transactions for the unusual decision by the city cabinet.

It was a move that irked residents, who viewed the ban as an infringement of legal rights.

The city council appointed Kenea Yadeta, former defence minister, as the head of the Addis Abeba Land Development & Management Bureau in October, replacing Jamal Aliye.

An average of 10 people designated to authenticate documents appear weekly before the Addis Ketama District Land Management Bureau. Despite complaints directed to the city administration, there was no response from the district officials, claiming the case was under review.

"We couldn't do anything without a decision from the city officals," Andualem Yitna, head of the Bureau, told Fortune.

However, the city administration revised the suspension last week, allowing residents with disabilities, those unable to move due to illness and members of the diasporas to use their power of attorney rights upon property transactions. Share and private limited companies were allowed to get service through general managers or their directors.

Tilahun's order has caused disputes within the city's rank and with federal agency officials authenticating documents. It was not applied by the Federal Documents Authentication & Registration Agency, disclosed Alemshet Meshesha, communications head.

In the first quarter of the year, the Agency authenticated 181,940 documents, including leased land contracts.

Although the city administration copied the revised order to all the district offices under its structure, not all seem to have received the circular. Andualem disclosed to Fortune that his Bureau has yet to receive the latest letter.