# Ministry of Justice (Ethiopia)

The Ministry of Justice of Ethiopia (Amharic: የኢትዮጵያ ፍትህ ሚኒስቴር) is the government department that has the authority of federal prosecution and had possessed executive and judicial powers. The ministry was a part of the federal branch of the government, and prosecuted cases that fell within the federal jurisdiction. In 1995, the responsibility for the federal police force and prisons was transferred to the Ministry of Justice after the Ministry of Internal Affairs was abolished. In 2017, it was announced that the Ministry of Justice's affairs would be transitioned into the Federal Attorney General's Office.

## Creation and legal basis

According to Article 16 of Proclamation 691/2010, the Ministry of Justice had the following powers:
* Is chief advisor to the Federal Government on matters of law; Represents the Federal Government in criminal cases falling under the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts; withdraw criminal charges for good causes; follow up the execution of decisions of the courts
* Orders the conduct of investigation where it believes that a crime the adjudication of which falls under the jurisdiction of the federal courts has been committed; orders the discontinuance of an investigation or instructs further investigation on good cause; withdraw criminal charges in accordance with the law;
* Undertakes legal reform studies; carry out codification and consolidation of federal laws, collect Regional State laws and consolidate as necessary
* Assist in the preparation of draft laws when so requested by federal organs and regional states;
* Undertake or order the conduct of investigation where it believes that a crime the adjudication of which falls under the jurisdiction of the federal courts has been committed; direct and supervise the process of the investigation; allow plea bargain; upon the existence of good cause, decide on the discontinuance of an investigation or the carrying out of additional investigation;
* Studies the causes of and the methods of crime prevention; devise ways and means of crime prevention; coordinate the relevant government organs in crime prevention;
* Ensure that witnesses to a criminal case are accorded protection, as necessary;
* Assists victims of crimes or violations of human rights in civil proceedings to claim damages where such victims are unable to institute such claims in federal courts and to follow up the proceeding on their own;
* Institutes or cause the institution of suits or intervene at any stage of the proceedings of such suits before federal and regional state courts, any judicial body or arbitration tribunal where the rights and interests of the public and of the Federal Government so require;
* Registers religious organizations, nonprofit making foreign organizations and, unless specific power is given to other government organs, non-governmental organizations and associations operating in the cities of Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa or in more than one Regional State;
* Follows up, as necessary, the handling of civil suits and claims to which the federal government organs are parties; cause reports-to be submitted to it on same, and ensure that competent staff is assigned for the purpose;
* Issues, supervises and revokes licenses advocates for practicing before federal courts;
* Provides legal education through the use of various methods with a view to raising public legal consciousness in relation to the protection of human rights; cooperate with the appropriate bodies regarding legal education and training;

## History

In 2016, Getachew Ambaye was successively the Minister of Justice and then Attorney General under the administrative renaming of the position.

## List of ministers (post-occupation in 1942)

| Justice Minister | Justice Minister | Justice Minister | Term of office | Term of office | Prime Minister |
| # | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Prime Minister |
| 1 | | Ayele Gebre | 1939 | 1942 | Betwoded Wolde Tzaddick |
| 2 | | Aie-Masfin Andargatchew Massai | 1943 | 1948 | Betwoded Wolde Tzaddick |
| 3 | | Wolde Giyorgis Wolde Yohannes | 1949 | 1955 | Ras Betwoded Makonnen Endelkachew |
| 4 | | Abiye Abebe | 1958 | 1961 | Ras Abebe Aregai |
| 5 | | Dejazmatch Zewdie Gebre-Salassie | 1961 | 1963 | Tsehafi Taezaz Aklilu Habte-Wold |
| 6 | | Mammo Tadesse | 1966 | 1967 | Tsehafi Taezaz Aklilu Habte-Wold |
| 7 | | Akale Worq Habte Wold | 1969 | 1974 | Tsehafi Taezaz Aklilu Habte-Wold |
| 8 | | Belachew Asrat | 1975 | 1975 | Post Abolished (12 September 1974–10 September 1987) by the Derg |
| 9 | | Amanuel Amde-Mikael | 1975 | 1978 | Post Abolished (12 September 1974–10 September 1987) by the Derg |
| 10 | | Zegeye Asfaw | 1978 | 1979 | Post Abolished (12 September 1974–10 September 1987) by the Derg |
| 11 | | Zegeye Asfaw | 1980 | 1980 | Post Abolished (12 September 1974–10 September 1987) by the Derg |
| 12 | | Getachew Kibret | 1980 | 1983 | Post Abolished (12 September 1974–10 September 1987) by the Derg |
| 13 | | Emanuel Amde Michael | 1984 | 1986 | Post Abolished (12 September 1974–10 September 1987) by the Derg |
| 14 | | Wondayen Mehretu | 1986 | 1991 | Fikre Selassie Wogderess |
| 15 | | Shiferaw Wolde-Michael | 1991 | 1992 | Tamrat Layne |
| 16 | | Mehitma Solomon | 1992 | 1998 | Meles Zenawi |
| 17 | | Wolde Werede | 1998 | 2001 | Meles Zenawi |
| 18 | | Harka Haroyu | 2001 | 2008 | Meles Zenawi |
| 19 | | Berhan Hailu | 2008 | 3 June 2013 | Meles Zenawi |
| 20 | | Getachew Ambaye | 4 June 2013 | 11 May 2016 | Hailemariam Desalegn |
| 21 | | Ato Birhanu Tsegaye (Attorney General) | October 2018 | March 2020 | Abiy Ahmed |
| 22 | | Adanech Abebe (Attorney General) | 12 March 2020 | 18 August 2020 | Abiy Ahmed |
| 23 | | Gedion Timotheos | 6 October 2021 | 18 October 2024 | Abiy Ahmed |
| 24 | | Hanna Arayaselassie | 18 October 2024 | Incumbent | Abiy Ahmed |