Eviction Edict Leaves Book Vendors Adrift in Cultural Landmark District

Oct 26 , 2025. By SURAFEL MULUGETA ( FORTUNE STAFF WRITER )

More than a dozen bookstores operating along Gambia Street, behind the National Theatre, have been told to prepare for evacuation, following a Wereda meeting on October 18, 2025. For over 20 years, these humble container shops have been an anchor for book lovers, often run by owners whose livelihoods depend on daily sales that can swing from dozens of books to none.

A community of booksellers shadowing the Ethiopian National Theatre has been jolted by a sudden eviction order, stirring uncertainty over their livelihoods and the literary life of the capital. The decision, issued following a meeting held by the Qirqos District’s Woreda 07 Administrative Office on October 18, 2025, has left bookstore owners along Gambia Street scrambling for answers.

For over two decades, this stretch near the historic theatre has been a sanctuary for book lovers, a warren of corrugated metal shops hawking everything from dog-eared children’s fables to dense political history. Now, these container shops face removal despite vague instructions and no written timeline, compounding the distress of proprietors already facing a volatile market.

Booksellers complained that the order came abruptly, leaving them uncertain about their next move and the future of their livelihoods.

Bitweded Frew, a fixture in the area’s book trade, is among those most affected. A father of three, a son in fifth grade, two daughters in third grade and kindergarten, Bitweded has run his bookstore for over 20 years. His shop, modest but well-known, has sustained his family and paid for his children’s education, despite the constant pressures of a market that seldom delivers windfalls.

“The bookstore business isn’t great," he told Fortune. "But, it isn't terrible either. We may not become wealthy, but we earn enough to support our families and educate our children."

However, the business is unpredictable

"One day we can sell many books, and the next day we might sell none,” he said.

For Bitweded, the prospect of eviction is not only a business setback but a personal crisis. Living in a rented home for 6,000 Br a month, a sum that stretches his finances, he fears he will have nowhere to store his books if forced to move. The rent for the container shops has remained at 60 Br a month, but finding a new place could mean rents soaring as high as 40,000 Br, an expense far beyond his reach.

“I don’t know what I am going to do,” he told Fortune.

The booksellers are pleading for clear timelines and more guidance from local officials, arguing that moving thousands of books requires preparation and, ideally, alternative spaces. Without this, they say, their families’ incomes are at risk.

Chemere Abate, who has run a bookstore in the same area for 16 years, echoed these fears.

“The eviction order was issued abruptly," he said. "The authorities didn't provide any official letter or formal documentation explaining the decision.”

Chemere’s shop is the sole source of income for his family of five children, one in kindergarten. He has financed their education and household expenses from the shop’s earnings. He worries about what will happen to his business and his family if forced to leave, with no clear plan for relocation.

“We're taxpayers," he said, recalling the 16,000 Br he paid for the last fiscal year. "This isn't just our store. It's our home where we earn money to support our family.”

Like many of his peers, Chemere was unaware of any previous discussions about the future of the bookstores.

A similar story is told by Yosef Getachew, who has operated his bookstore for 13 years. The business is not lucrative, but it is enough to cover the essentials for his family, including two children in sixth grade and kindergarten, as well as a widowed sister and her seventh-grade son. Yosef pays 10,000 Br monthly rent for his home, covered by the bookstore's proceeds. Local officials told him that the stores in the area do not meet city standards. Yosef and other shop owners argue that if the issue is the containers' appearance or condition, they would be willing to invest in renovations rather than be forced to move.

“It isn't fair to push us away," he said. "We can’t afford to rent another bookstore. We need an alternative solution.”

These shops stock a wide array of books, including educational, novel, and children’s titles, as well as works on Ethiopian and world history. The shop owners believe their services are crucial to the community, providing access to reading materials that support learning and intellectual growth.

Local officials, however, argue that the decision to clear the area was not arbitrary. According to Neima Loba, general manager of the Wereda 07 Administrative Office, the bookstores were built as container structures along the fence of a property owned by the Federal Housing Corporation. It was formerly leased to the Ethiopian National Lottery Administration (ENLA) but is now being redeveloped by a new proprietor. Neima sees that the site's changing status has led the containers to no longer meet the planned upgrades. A letter from the Corporation advised the local administrative office that the structures needed to be removed.

“We aren't making them move right now," she told Fortune. "We're giving them some time to prepare.”

However, five bookstalls had already been moved from their previous locations in front of a building entrance that was being blocked. The remaining 14 are set to relocate after a request from the Housing Corporation to clear all container shops from the perimeter. The containers were initially authorised for five years but have remained for over 20 years.

"The structures don't reflect the evolving look of the city," Niema told Fortune. "Adaptation to new urban standards is required."

According to Neima, the recent meeting was called to allow booksellers to prepare for the changes. She encouraged booksellers with questions or complaints to approach her office directly, noting that no formal grievances had yet been received.

Kibru Kefyale, a book distributor for Jafar Bookstore near Tiqur Anbessa Hospital, sees a broader trend at work. He expressed concern about the rising frequency of bookstall removals in the city, noting that the industry is feeling the impact. In the past, books were sold in front of Parliament and other prominent sites, but now many bookstores are being pushed to the margins or forced out of the city altogether. The result is hardship not only for business owners but also for their families.

“If this continues, I worry about the future of books," Kibru told Fortune. "This situation not only affects bookstore owners but also impacts us, book distributors and writers alike.”

Ayanaw Yeneneh(PhD), who has managed Universal Business Consulting for five years, believes the moment calls for a different approach. He considers the bookstores vital economic actors that support families and promote education.

“These stores serve as entrepreneurs for many people," he said. "They support numerous families and, more importantly, they promote a culture of reading within society. It is essential to protect that contribution.”

Ayanaw argued that rather than evicting the bookstores, the city should provide legal and administrative support, such as offering affordable rental spaces in other areas to ensure the continuity of business. He argued that short eviction notices place a heavy burden on the owners. He urged city officials to offer financial and emotional support before displacing them.

“Alternative solutions can make a meaningful difference,” he said.

Despite their worries, most bookstore owners say they will follow official instructions if authorities offer a viable relocation plan or support. For now, the dominant feeling is uncertainty, with the fate of these decades-old bookstalls hanging in the balance.

PUBLISHED ON Oct 26,2025 [ VOL 26 , NO 1330]