4466 Environmental Crimes in Ethiopia.indd

Rose Mwebaza, Philip Njuguna Mwanika and Wondowossen Sintayehu Wonndemagegnehu
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To enter and search any private landholding, building,
tent, vehicle, aircraft or boat and to inspect bags or
sealed items without a court order where there are
sufficient grounds to believe that wildlife or wildlife
products are kept illegally.
To seize and confiscate any wildlife or wildlife products
that are the proceeds of an offence, as well as any
weapon with which the offence has been committed.
To detain, without a court order, a person who is found
committing an offence and to deliver such a person to
the appropriate law enforcement authority.
However, like many government institutions, EWCA
lacks total autonomy and has been affected by government
reorganisation. In not even a decade it has formed part
of two ministries: first the Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Development and then the Ministry of Culture
and Tourism.
FEDERAL POLICE COMMISSION
The Federal Police Commission was re-established in
2000, when its mandate over the control of crime in
Ethiopia was expanded. According to its establishment
proclamation, the commission is empowered to –
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prevent any crime;
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investigate crimes that fall under the jurisdiction of
federal courts,
execute orders and decisions issued by courts having
judicial powers;
safeguard the security of Ethiopia’s borders, airports,
railway lines and terminals, mining areas and vital
institutions of the federal government;
provide assistance in time of emergency and cooperate
with concerned organs;
render professional and technical advice and support
to regional police commissions and, at the requests of
regions, give assistance with regard to the prevention
and investigation of criminal cases; and
collect evidence, conduct research and distribute
information and statistical data on crime, as well as
create a nationwide system for criminal data collection
and processing.
Despite this mandate, there appears to be a significant
misunderstanding in the police force about its role with
regard to environmental crime. This is evident from the
low profile environmental crime holds within the Federal
Police Commission. In part, this is because crimes of an
environmental nature are a relatively new phenomenon
in Ethiopia. Training for police officers in environmental
law is quite minimal, and the frequency and intensity of
courses needs to be enhanced.
Situation Report 15