Addis Ababa/Finfinee: A Blueprint towards Twin-city Administration

Abstract

This article analyses the challenge of Addis Ababa´s double status – both as capital of Ethiopia and that of the Regional State of Oromia. It delves into the unresolved issue of the special interest of Oromia in Addis Ababa/Finfinnee. This article propounds that, where there is no separate capital city administration directly responsible to the State of Oromia, it is constitutionally nonsensical and hierarchically incongruent to require the State of Oromia to join hands with the Addis Ababa city government for joint administration. Thus, it seeks to address the so-called “special interest” of Oromia in Addis Ababa/Finfinnee through two-city administrations. This stems from a critical reading of the constitutional provision which calls for the establishment of joint administration of Addis Ababa/Finfinnee (see: Art 49 (5) of the FDRE Constitution). Furthermore, the Indian model of city administration is taken as a lesson to supplement twin-city administration. This article finds that, for the State of Oromia to ensure not only the so-called “special interest in Addis Ababa” but most importantly its right to the city, it shall, a fortiori, undertake a structural adjustment.