Societal Script und Verfassungsrecht als konkurrierende Grundlagen der Herrschaftsordnung Äthiopiens

Nach dem Zusammenbruch des Mengistu-Regimes sucht Äthiopien nach einer neuen Herr­ schaftsund Legitimationsordnung. Dabei kommt der traditionellen Gesellschaftsund Legitimationsform wiederum erhöhte Bedeutung zu Gleichzeitig wird aber die Frage aufgeworfen, welche instrumentale Funktion das moderne Recht, insbesondere das Verfas­ sungsrecht, für die Umstrukturierung des äthiopischen Staates haben kann. Von äthiopi­ scher Seite wurde gelegentlich behauptet, daß immer dann, wenn eine ausländische Macht in Berührung mit Äthiopien getreten sei, die Äthiopier eine Verfassung erhalten hätten. Diese Auffassung ist historisch nicht gerechtfertigt, denn schon im 16. Jahrhundert kannte der äthiopische Staatsverband eine Verfassungsurkunde. die Ser'ata Mangest, die eine sehr konkrete Beschreibung der äthiopischen Herrschaftswirklichkeit und des Herrschafts­ anspruchs enthielt2 Die neue Aufgabe, die sich die Übergangsregierung Äthiopiens gestellt hat, muß vor allem die Frage beantworten, wieweit man bei der Neuorganisation dem Societal Script oder modernen verfassungsrechtlichen Konzeptionen folgt und inwieweit diese Neuorganisation eine Entsprechung zu der traditionellen Herrschaftslegitimation und Struktur haben soll.

So einfach läßt sich aber in der modernen Staatenwelt die Frage nicht stellen, denn Äthiopien oder die Nachfolgestaaten müssen weiterhin in der Lage sein, im internationalen Rahmen zu agieren. Eine Reduktion auf 14 Staaten entsprechend der Neugliederung Äthiopiens würde nicht nur zu einer dauernden Beunruhigung der Region führen, sondern "The right of nations, nationalities and peoples to self-detennination is affinned. To this end, each nation, nationality and people is guaranteed the right to: a) Preserve its identity and have it respected, promote its culture and history and use and develop its language; b) Administer its own affairs within its own defined territory and effectively participate in the central govemment on the basis of freedom, and fair and proper representation; c) Exercise its right to self-determination of independence, when the concemed, nation/nationali ties and people is convinced that the above rights are denied, abridged or abrogated." 4 In der Darstellung der Geschichte Äthiopiens wird regelmäßig die Zentralisierung unter Haile Nachfolgend sollen in Anbetracht der Tatsache, daß eine neue gesamtäthiopische Födera tion bevorsteht oder geplant ist, die Fragen untersucht werden, ob Thesis oder Antithesis der beiden Gruppen von amharisch-ti gr eischen Ethnien oder der oromoischen Ethnien Grundlage einer föderativen Struktur von "Nationen", ·"Nationalitäten" oder "Völkern" sein kann, wie dies in Art. 2 der Übergangsverfassung Äthiopiens ausgedrückt wird. Daß Eritrea bereits den Diskussionsboden für eine Föderation verlassen hat und durch ein Referendum Anfang 1993 sich von Äthiopien ganz loslösen wird, scheint eine Tatsache zu sein. Doch auch diese Tatsache muß nicht bedeuten. daß nicht in Zukunft eine neue Föderation möglich ist, die dann zwischen einem neu strukturierten föderalen Äthiopien und Eritrea zu schließen wäre.

Transitional Period Charter of Ethiopia
Whereas the overthrow of the military dictatorship that has ruled Ethiopia for seventeen years presents a historical moment, providing the Peoples of Ethiopia with the opportunity to rebuild the country and restructure the state democratically; Whereas the military dictatorship was, in essence, a continuation of the previous regimes and its demise marks the end of an era of subjugation and oppression thus starting a new chapter in Ethiopian history in which freedom, equal rights and self-determination of all the peoples shall be the goveming principles of political, economic and social life and thereby contributing to the we!fare of the Ethiopian Peoples and rescuing them from centuries of subjugation and backwardness; Whereas peace and stability, as essential conditions of development, require the end of all hostilities, the healing of wounds caused by conflicts and the establishment and main tainance of good neighbourliness and co-operation;

Whereas for the fulfilment of the aforementioned conditions and for the reign of a just peace, the proclamation of a democratic order is a categorical imperative, and;
Whereas to this end, all institutions of repression installed by theprevious regimes shall be dismantled, regional prejudicies redressed and the rights and interests of the deprived citizens safeguarded by a democratic govemment elected by and accountable to the People; W hereas from The Peace Loving and Democratic forces present in the Ethiopian society and having Varied Views, having met in a Conference convened from July 1-5 in Addis Ababa, have discussed and approved the charter laying down the rules goveming The Transitional Govemment as weil as setting down the principles for the transitional period, Now, therefore, it is hereby proclaimed as follows;

Part One Democratk Rights
Based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations, adopted and proclaimed by theGeneral Assembly by resolution 217 A (III) of 10 Dec. 1948, individual human rights shall be respected fully, and without any limitation whatsoever. Particularly every individual shall have: a) The freedom of conscience, expression, association and peaceable assembly; b) The right to engage in unrestricted political activity and to organize political parties, provided the exercise of such right does not infringe upon the rights of others.

Article Two
The right of nations, nationalities and peoples to self-determination is affirmed. To this end, each nation, nationality and people is guarranteed the right to: a) Preserve its identity and have it respected, promote its culture and history and use and develop its language; b) Administer its own affairs within its own defined territory and effectively participate in the central government on the basis of freedom, and fair and proper representation; c) Exercise its right to self-determination of independence, when the concerned, nation/ nationality and people is convinced that the above rights are denied, abridged or abrogated.

PartTwo Principles Guiding Foreign Policy
The Transitional Government will conduct its foreign relations on the basis of the prin ciples of respect for the sovereignity and equality of states and non-intervention and non interference in intemal affairs, as weil as the promotion of mutual interests. Accordingly:

Article Six
There shall be established a Transitional Govemment consisting of a Council of R ep resen tatives and a Council of Ministers.

Article Seven
Tue Council of R ep resentatives shall be composed of representatives of national liberation movements, other political organizations and prominent individuals to make-up a total of no more than 87 members.

Article Eight
The j) provide the mechanism to ascertain the fair and impartial appl ication of the mass media; k) issue just labour law that protects the rights and interests of the workers.

Part Four Transitional Programme
Tue following provisions for a transitional period have been adopted in order to lead the country towards füll democracy.

ArticleTen
Tue Council of Representatives shall constitute the Constitutional Commission to draw up a draft constitution. The Constitutional Commission shall submit to the Council of Representatives the draft constitution.

Article Eleven
U po n adoption of the draft constitution by the Council of Representatives, the Constitution shall be presented to the people for discussion. The final draft shall be presented for adoption to the Constituent Assembly to be elected pursuant to the final draft of the Constitution.

Article Twelve
Elections to a National Assembly shall be held on the basis of the provisions of the new Constitution. The Transitional Govemment shall handover po wer to the party or parties that gain a majority in the National Assembly. The said national elections shall be held no later than two years after the establishment of the Transitional Government. Provided however, that the period can be extended by the Council of Representatives for no more than six months.

Article Thirteen
There shall be a law establishing local and regional councils for local administrative pur po ses defined on the basis of nationality. Elections for such local and regional councils shall be held within three months of the establishment of the Transitional Govemment, wherever local conditions allow.

B. Relief and Rehabilitation
The Transitional Govemment is unequivocally determined to ensure the delivery of relief assistance to areas ravaged by war and drought. In connection with this: Since its coming into force, the constitution proved effective in the democratic election of February 1992 and the subsequent inauguration of the members of the main institution of the state.

By Heinrich Scholler
The Transitional Constitution of Ethiopia (transitional period charter of Ethiopia of 22nd July 1991) states in Art. 2 that the different National Societies, the central and the regional powers have to decide to what extent they will adopt modern constitutional law or recur to traditional organisation of their societies. The Societal Script is the expression of internal not-wrinen political order, which has to be taken into consideration. Scholars have put emphasis on the fact that the Societal Script of different groups like the Tigray-amhara and the Oromo form a thesis and anti-thesis as vertical and horizontal structure in Society, which have to be reconciled. These competing structures of the different Societal Scripts could be organised in a federal system for allowing to have diversity on the regional and cultural level together with national or central unity. Modem and traditional law (Societal Scripts) must not remain an unsolved conflict.

Adventure of the National Conference in Togo
By

EA.B. van Rouveroy vanNieuwaal
During the last hundred years, Africa has seen profound political and constitutional changes the extent of which is closely linked to the respective colonial power. The African state is a juridical entity in international law, but was it also, at the time of independence, an empirical entity? In almost all cases the newly independent states in Africa kept a number of the European administrative officials who formerly represented the colonial state. lndependence, there fore, created a gap between the international legitimacy and the intemal legitimacy of many African states.