Mekelle/Tel Aviv/Nairobi/Pretoria/London
Raya Communities Demand Protection of Farmland Amid Fears of Illegal Land Deals and Youth Displacement
Residents across the Raya Valley staged demonstrations today, calling for stronger protections over local farmland and greater transparency in agricultural investment amid growing concerns that illegal land acquisitions are driving youth displacement and undermining rural livelihoods.
Protesters argued that vast tracts of farmland considered the economic backbone of the valley’s rural communities are increasingly being targeted by what they describe as “pseudo investors.” Demonstrators said these actors acquire agricultural land through irregular processes, often without community consultation, and sometimes in violation of regional and federal land administration rules.
Local residents expressed alarm that the loss of farmland is contributing to a rise in landless youth, pushing many to migrate to Middle Eastern countries in search of work. Community elders warned that the trend threatens food production and long-term food security, given the valley’s historic role as one of the region’s key agricultural zones.
The demonstrations brought renewed attention to longstanding questions about how Ethiopia regulates agricultural investment—particularly regarding foreign ownership and the scale of land that investors are allowed to acquire.
Ethiopian law generally prohibits private ownership of land, instead granting use rights to citizens and investors. While the federal investment proclamation allows foreign and domestic investors to lease land for agricultural development, regional authorities retain responsibility for administering land and enforcing limits. Regulations in several regions restrict the size of agricultural land that can be allocated without higher-level approval, and many prohibit nonresident foreigners from holding land-use rights in ecologically sensitive or protected areas.
Despite this framework, protesters in Raya say weak enforcement, opaque decision-making, and the involvement of politically connected actors have enabled irregular land transfers. Community members are demanding full public disclosure of land allocation decisions, publication of investor identities, and clarity on the risks associated with large-scale land deals.
Local residents also emphasized the need for community involvement in land-use planning, arguing that sustainable development can only be achieved when local knowledge, environmental concerns, and community priorities are integrated into official plans.
Today’s demonstrations reflect a broader tension playing out in rural Ethiopia, where communities increasingly insist that development must not come at the expense of local rights, economic security, and intergenerational stewardship of farmland.
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