47 Years in the Making: Eneredada Cooperative Battles Sudden Eviction in Addis Ababa















The members of “Eneredada Multipurpose Consumers Union Limited Liability Company,” which has been managing two properties behind Mado Hotel and Dessalen Hotel in Bole sub-district in Addis Ababa for the past 47 years, complained that they were informed that the properties would be transferred to individuals. Mrs. Manyahlushal Kebede, chairman of the association’s board, told the reporter that the holdings were “to be given to an investor and an organization for development, so they should vacate immediately.”

The chairman of the board, who stated that the association had more than 270 members when it was founded, explained that they received a response saying, “We made you leave as per the decision of the administration cabinet of Bole sub-district, district 03 without being informed.” He mentioned that it is inappropriate for the association to release the properties they have been managing for many years to give to two investors.

In a letter written to the city administration, the association stated that since the administration had decided to give two plots of land to private individuals, a verbal order was given to them to vacate the plots through the district 3 office. As the order given to the association was shocking and unexpected, they requested to be given a written document to prove which government body issued the order. However, they were told, “There is nothing to be given in writing, as it is an instruction from a higher body, leave the place in two or three days.”

The association pointed out in the letter that one of the holdings of the Eneredada Multipurpose Consumers Union, which is managed by more than 220 members, is 5,700 square meters, and the other, which is located behind Dessalen Hotel, is 2,400 square meters. Ms. Manyahlushal pointed out that it is not clear why the association’s holdings are being given to only one individual and one organization, especially since the association has 500 million birr in deposit capital in addition to its assets and can develop as required by the city administration.

Alemu Denekou, a member of the Legal Committee of Eneredada Multipurpose Consumers Private Limited Liability Company, said that the two properties of the association, which are located behind Bole Mado Hotel and Dessalen Hotel, are legal and have maps. He said that since the association can develop the two holdings to the full extent that the government wants, there is no reason why they should be transferred to other entities.

When asked why the association’s holdings are being handed over to individuals, the Addis Ababa city administration replied that “it was a decision passed by the cabinet,” and the members of the legal committee explained that they would pursue legal action to get the government to respond to the matter immediately. The association, founded in 1999, was the first consumer cooperative society to build its own building by spending 18 million birr. He stated that the government should have held discussions before vacating the site and the law supports this.

They added that a modern restaurant called Savor, located on the property that the association built and now being demolished, employs more than 200 workers. Regarding the matter, the Head of Complaints and Complaints Department of the Addis Ababa City Administration Mayor’s Office, Mr. Abayneh Amergu, told the reporter that such a complaint had not been received by the office and that the affected parties can submit their complaints. The official said that so far, only people whose properties have been destroyed by the corridor development are filing complaints. He said that such a case is significant and they should file their complaints so that they can be dealt with quickly. He explained that it is not possible to say “get up and leave” with such a decision and that it has its own procedure.