Rural Land Administration Proclamation of the Federal Government of Ethiopia (No. 89/1997).

This basic piece of legislation sets out principles and lays the foundations for laws relative to land tenure and administration of rural land are to be enacted by Regional Councils in respect of each Region of Ethiopia and in accordance with the present Proclamation, laws on environmental protection and land utilization policies. (Rural) land is declared to be a common property of the “Nations, Nationalities and Peoples” of Ethiopia and it is prescribed that land shall not be subject to sale or other means of exchange. Article 6 prescribes contents of the laws to be enacted, including matters such as assignment of land rights, demarcation of land, grazing, forestry and communal use. Regional governments shall determine rates of land-use fees and royalties on the use of forest resources.