Addis Ababa implements digital land certificates and stricter fraud penalties

Mayor Adanech Abiebie stated that all existing land titles have been digitized and stored as scanned digital backups, preventing the introduction of fraudulent files into the system. The city has also converted its land maps to a fully digital e-map system, replacing a paper-based process that was susceptible to forgery, which has reduced the use of fake maps. Stricter disciplinary measures have been introduced, with a cabinet regulation allowing for the automatic dismissal of employees implicated in land-related misconduct.

This digitization effort extends to key land administration agencies, including the revenue authority and the construction permit office, focusing on services with high volumes of public complaints. The electronic land map services became operational recently, enabling electronic map printing for land institutions. Additionally, officials reported on the city’s housing program, with 179,000 housing units under construction.

They also addressed shortcomings in inherited housing projects, noting that nearly 1,400 units were left incomplete without basic infrastructure. The city borrowed approximately five billion birr through bond financing to complete these projects. Furthermore, the city has tightened enforcement of rental rules, prohibiting informal side agreements that exceed le