Alternative Dispute Resolution in Ethiopia- A Legal Framework

Ethiopia has for centuries been using traditional methods of dispute resolution. The institutions of Gadaa among the Oromo, the Shimagelle by the Amhara, and the other ethnic groups were used. But Alternative Dispute Resolution has not attained any significant position of usage and acceptance in its modern form. Recent incorporation of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms in the legal polity has been greeted with a lukewarm attitude by the government, judiciary and the civil society. However, existing realities on the ground and in practice have pepped-up the need to resort to other means of dispute resolution rather than relying entirely on the conventional courts. This article will attempt to explore the regime of Alternative Dispute Resolution in Ethiopia, its legal framework, current practices and the way forward. The implication of the need to embrace the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution by all stakeholders was also be analyzed.African Research Review Vol. 2 (2) 2008 pp. 265-28