Migration and Rural-Urban Linkages in Ethiopia

functions. The improvement of physical infrastructure and development ofcommunications, notably the construction of the Djibouti-Addis Ababa railwaycontributed to the emergence of several towns along the route, where fifteen railwaystations rapidly emerged into important towns. The mushrooming of towns, along withthe establishment of financial and public services such as banks, hospitals and schoolsalso increased urban-rural linkages and the movement of people from one area to another(Akalu, 1973; Bahru, 1991).The Italian occupation between 1935 and 1941 and the development of infrastructure,roads and buildings had a considerable effect on the towns of Ethiopia and, hence, onpopulation migration. Most of the towns became areas under effective Italian control andthe occupying forces made considerable efforts to improve their structures. Bjeren (1985)indicated that the most important contribution made by the Italians to modern Ethiopianurbanisation was the establishment of urban markets with monetary remuneration forservices. They confiscated the town land from the landlords and abolished patron-clientrelationships. As noted by Fekadu (1972), the Italian occupation, therefore, broughturbanism based on division of labour, specialisation and cash economy.Bjeren (1985) also believed that the Italian occupation brought a tremendous increase inroad construction, and boosted both the numbers and functions of towns. Although mostof the towns remained garrison towns, they brought groups of soldiers who were in direneed of houses, food and entertainment. This, in turn, broadened the economic base forthe urban areas and encouraged the migration of non-agricultural ‘specialists’ from ruralareas such as artisans, traders, bar and restaurant owners, shop-keepers and constructionworkers.The post-liberation, Imperial Period of Haile Selassie (1941-1974)Although the post-Italian period began with a sharp decline in urban activity, the Imperialregime of Haile Selassie was known for the consolidation and centralisation ofgovernment structures, the establishment of the Imperial Highway Authority and roadbuilding operation, the establishment of industrial enterprises and commercial centres, the‘modernisation’ of municipal services and the expansion of urban handicrafts, which haddirect impacts on the growth of urban areas in Ethiopia. Thus a number of smallcommercial towns with their main trade and transport functions emerged during thisperiod. Industrial zones were also designated across the railroad towns of Akaki-Beseka,Debre Zeit, Mojo, Nazareth and Dire Dawa. All these undertakings were reported to haveinfluenced rural-urban migration.Some studies indicate that considerable rural-rural migration was observed in the 1950sand 60s due to the development of commercial agriculture. In this respect, a Dutch firmset up a sugar cane plantation and processing factory in the upper Awash Valley in 1954.Haile Selassie’s Government was reported to have evicted hundreds of pastoralists for thepurpose of this plant and other subsequent large-scale commercial farms (Markakis,1973). The introduction of improved agricultural techniques through the establishment of7