Amnesty International’s Call to Halt Ethiopia’s Corridor Development Project: A Crisis of Rights vs. “Progress”

The Amnesty Report: Key Findings and Demands

On 14 April 2025, Amnesty International issued a damning report (Index: AFR 25/9098/2025) urging Ethiopia’s federal government to immediately suspend its Corridor Development Project (CDP), a nationwide urban renewal initiative active in at least 58 cities, including Addis Ababa, Jimma, and Hawassa. The report documents systemic forced evictions, destruction of homes, and a lack of compensation or consultation with affected communities, labeling these actions violations of international human rights law, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Scale of Displacement: At least 872 individuals were forcibly evicted in November 2024 from Addis Ababa’s Bole and Lemi Kura sub-cities alone, including 114 children and 13 elderly people. None of the 47 households surveyed received compensation, despite many owning legally recognised homes.

Psychological and Economic Toll: Displaced families report children dropping out of school, deteriorating mental health, and unaffordable living costs after being forced into rented housing on city outskirts.

Government Contradictions: While Urban Development Minister Chaltu Sani claims demolitions have halted, Amnesty’s evidence shows ongoing evictions without legal safeguards. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has controversially dismissed compensation claims, stating evictees in Jimma “have not demanded compensation”.

Timeliness of the Report: A Necessary Intervention

The report arrives at a critical juncture. Launched in 2022, the CDP’s second phase began in October 2024, expanding to 132 kilometers and displacing thousands more. With demolitions continuing and millions at risk, Amnesty’s call for a human rights impact assessment is urgent. The timing aligns with rising international scrutiny of Ethiopia’s governance, including its handling of conflicts in Amhara and Tigray, where abuses by state forces and militias persist.

The report also follows parliamentary scrutiny in Ethiopia. In recent hearings, MPs criticized the CDP’s “arbitrary execution,” noting budget strains and unchecked evictions in small towns. Minister Chaltu Sani admitted that even “towns with one or two kebeles” are pursuing corridor projects, contrary to original plans . Amnesty’s findings thus amplify domestic dissent, challenging the government’s narrative of “transformative progress.”

Displaced Communities: Between Desperation and Advocacy

For evicted families, the report is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it validates their suffering a rare acknowledgment in a climate where journalists face harassment for covering the CDP. One evictee told Amnesty, “We lost hope in the government”, reflecting widespread disillusionment. The report’s demand for restitution could rekindle hope, but only if paired with action.

Conversely, displaced communities may view the report as a geopolitical tool. Ethiopia’s government has framed the CDP as a patriotic modernisation effort, dismissing criticism as foreign interference. State rhetoric could paint Amnesty’s work as “hostile reporting,” undermining its credibility among pro government segments. Yet for victims, the report is a lifeline perhaps a stakeholder driven nudge to curb elite driven “aesthetic” projects that prioritise infrastructure over people.

Global Context: Ghost Cities and Hollow Sustainability

The CDP echoes China’s infamous “ghost cities”urban marvels built rapidly but devoid of communities. Like Ethiopia, China prioritised aesthetics and GDP growth over livability, resulting in ecological and social decay. Amnesty’s report challenges this model, aligning with global sustainability goals that emphasise dignified housing and inclusive development.

Ethiopia’s CDP, however, risks exacerbating inequality. While officials tout green spaces and rising property values, the reality is displacement without recourse. As Minister Chaltu stated, “Even medicines have side effects”, framing human costs as collateral damage. This logic clashes with universal values: the right to housing, participatory governance, and intergenerational equity.

Universal Values vs. Elite Ambition

Amnesty’s report is not merely a critique of Ethiopia it is a referendum on global development paradigms. In an era of climate collapse and widening inequality, projects like the CDP test whether governments can balance progress with humanity. For Ethiopia, the path forward requires:

Immediate suspension of the CDP until independent human rights assessments are conducted .

Restitution for victims, including compensation and alternative housing.

Transparent dialogue with affected communities, ensuring evictions comply with international standards.

The displaced are not obstacles to “development” but stakeholders in it. As the world watches, Ethiopia’s response will signal whether it values people over concrete a choice between enduring progress and ephemeral grandeur.

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For further details, refer to Amnesty International’s full report [AFR 25/9098/2025] and parliamentary proceedings cited in The Reporter Ethiopia .