Ethiopia’s Mineral Resource Ownership work: Navigating the Federal Fault Lines

Abstract

The assignment of ownership of mineral resources and the administration of mining licenses are contentious issues in federations. This article provides a comprehen- sive analysis of related challenges in the context of the Ethiopian federation. Based on qualitative research involving documentary analysis and in-depth interviews, it sheds light on issues surrounding the assignment of ownership of mineral resourc-
es and the administration of mining licenses in Ethiopia. The article reveals that the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia lacks clear and
adequate rules for regulating the assignment of ownership of minerals and the al- location of legislative power over mining licenses. It shows, moreover, that federal and regional mining laws exacerbate the confusion by providing a legal framework that violates existing constitutional norms, the principles of decentralisation, and international human rights law. Furthermore, the way in which mining licences are currently administered contradicts the constitutional division of power, as it fails to engage subnational actors in the decision-making process. These findings empha- sise the urgent need to address the legal and practical challenges associated with the assignment of ownership of mineral resources and the administration of mining licenses in the Ethiopian federation.