Understanding Land Transfers and Political Crisis in Ethiopia:

P. O. Box 5641

Minneapolis, MN 55406-0541

www.oromostudies.org

Email: admin@oromostudies.org

Announcing a Symposium

Understanding Land Transfers and Political Crisis in Ethiopia:

A Multidisciplinary Assessment of the Addis Ababa Integrated

Development Master Plan and Popular Uprising in Oromia

Date: Saturday, January 16, 2016

Venue: Washington Ethical Society

Address: 7750 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20012

Time: 1:30 – 6:30 PM

In mid-November of 2015, widespread protests broke out in the Oromia region of

Ethiopia. Protesters opposed a policy of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary

Democratic Front (EPRDF) to transfer smallholder arable lands to private investors.

Initial protests opposed a decision to lease community land in a small town west of the

federal capital of Addis Ababa to a private investor.

This exercise of civil expression quickly took on a form of resistance against a

federal government scheme known as the Addis Ababa Integrated Master Plan. In a few

days, the protests spread to all areas of Oromia, involving tens of thousands of

participants. Government response was swift and brutal, killing many people, arresting

hundreds of protesters, and taking into custody thousands, even Oromo political leaders

not directly involved in the protests.

In light of the need for greater understanding of these events, the Oromo Studies

Association (OSA) has called a symposium in which specialists will examine the various

dimensions of the Master Plan and elucidate the causes of this unprecedented protest

movement.

Presenters have been invited to explore the constitutional, political, economic,

cultural and environmental consequences of the Master Plan. All papers will present

substantive, documented arguments based on qualitative and/or quantitative research

and provide in-depth multidisciplinary analysis of the complex factors that led to the

widespread grassroots protests and the ensuing political crisis.

Anyone interested to better understand the Addis Ababa Master Plan and its

relation to the Oromo protests is welcome to attend. Specific invitation is issued to

government representatives, scholars, policy makers, analysts, human rights groups,

international and regional media, and other interested parties.

RSVP: admin@oromostudies.org For questions: www.oromostuidies.org Call 571-331-8337