Addis Ababa Mayor Admits over 11,000 Residents Displaced from Piazza

Addis Ababa Mayor Adanech Abeibie has acknowledged that more than 11,000 residents have been displaced from Piazza and its surrounding areas due to ongoing urban beautification construction that commenced a few weeks ago.

In a speech broadcasted by all state media outlets, the mayor stated, “We have relocated a total of 11,000 individuals from that area to more suitable accommodations.”

The residents affected by the demolition of their homes hail from various locations including Ras Mekonon Bridge, Mahmoud Music Hall, Adwa Victory Memorial Museum area, Abrihot Library (located four kilometers away), Tewodros Square, and Churchill Street, all due to the implementation of the “corridor development” project in the area.

According to the mayor, this corridor development spans approximately 8.1 kilometers, covering a distance of 4 kilometers from Piazza.

Furthermore, Mayor Adanech reported that out of the newly allocated accommodations, 1989 are public Kebele houses. Additionally, residents occupying the 490 houses formerly managed by the Housing Corporation have also vacated the area.

The mayor noted that apart from government-owned properties, private residential, commercial, and religious structures totaling 300 have been demolished, though specific religious institutions were not disclosed.

In addition to these demolitions, 886 sheds, containers, sticker shops, and 89 “temporary” shelters were also dismantled.

Mayor Adanech highlighted that numerous infrastructures including fences, pedestrian bridges, electricity, water, and telephone lines were also affected by the demolition.

Among the affected residents, 619 are reported to be students. The mayor emphasized that those who relocated were given the option of shared or Kebele houses, and individuals previously residing in housing corporation properties were offered alternative rental accommodations through the agency.

Regarding commercial establishments, the mayor stated that businesses were given the opportunity to develop replacement locations or relocate to other sites.

It was further disclosed that the government aims to complete the demolition of necessary houses within a month, with 71 percent of the targeted structures already removed.

While Mayor Adanech assured that no buildings in the area would be demolished, she mentioned plans to renovate 102 buildings according to government directives regarding materials, lighting, and color schemes.

Adanech Abeibie also acknowledged the presence of six heritage sites registered by the Heritage Protection Authority in the affected areas, expressing intentions to renovate and beautify these sites to enhance their appeal as tourist attractions in connection with the Adwa museum.

Despite claims by the mayor of extensive consultations with area residents, some displaced individuals criticized the abruptness of the relocation process.

They argued that three days were insufficient to vacate and dismantle homes where they had resided for decades, noting the challenge of packing belongings within such a short timeframe.

Renowned economist Mr. Muse Semu expressed concerns on his Facebook page, estimating that at least 500,000 residents could be displaced, with potential ramifications for both individuals and the economy at large.