Audit Leads to Suspensions over Land Grabs

Oct 16 , 2021

The Addis Abeba City Administration has suspended 120 officials and civil servants suspected of being involved in land grabbing. Briefing the media last week, Tiratu Beyene, city manager and deputy mayor, explained that out of 2,170 plots of land randomly examined by his office, close to 500 (over 20ht) had been transferred irregularly and deemed illegitimate. Out of over 1,000ht of land slated to be returned to the land bank in the last fiscal year, close to 400ht was transferred to individuals who have no legal grounds to hold title deeds, according to him. From the 252 plots of land designated for greenery development, 35 have been transferred unlawfully, the same source said. "All were returned to the land bank," Tiratu said. Additionally, among 70 plots of land that the city cabinet transferred to religious institutions and civil societies, 39 were not transferred to the right owners.