ADDIS ABABA – The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has introduced a new asset recovery bill aimed at bolstering the fight against corruption by expanding the scope of asset recovery beyond government employees to include all citizens.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Lead Executive Officer of Emergency Corruption Prevention at the Commission, the new bill will significantly enhance the government’s capacity to identify, freeze, and seize assets derived from criminal activities. Gashaw detailed in an interview with ENA how previous laws fell short, focusing mainly on government employees and overlooking broader public sector corruption. The proposed legislation, which aligns with international anti-corruption conventions to which Ethiopia is a signatory, seeks to close these gaps by applying to all citizens involved in corrupt activities, not just public officials.
The new bill introduces comprehensive measures for the recovery of illicit wealth amassed through corruption, human trafficking, arms trafficking, drug trafficking, counterfeiting, illegal remittances, tax evasion, and smuggling. These crimes not only yield substantial profits for the perpetrators but also inflict significant harm on the nation’s socio-economic and political landscape.
Justice Minister Gideon Timotios highlighted the inadequacies of the current legal framework in holding individuals accountable and pointed out the lack of mechanisms to question the source of wealth among non-governmental figures. The asset recovery bill is set to address these issues by including a provision that considers any unexplained wealth as public property, making it subject to legal action and seizure.
Drawing inspiration from Rwanda’s successful asset recovery model, Gezahegne emphasized the importance of a robust legal framework that discourages corruption by demonstrating that it is not a profitable venture. The bill is expected to deter corrupt practices by encouraging citizens to maintain transparent financial records and align with global anti-corruption standards.