Addis Ababa, April 3, 2026 (FMC) – Ethiopia’s House of People’s Representatives has adopted a new Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code under Proclamation No. 1410/2026, according to the Office of the Prime Minister.
The Office noted that over the past eight years, the Government of Ethiopia has carried out extensive legal and institutional reforms aimed at strengthening constitutionality, enhancing the protection of rights, and consolidating the rule of law.
Within this broader reform agenda, revising the Criminal Procedure Code was identified as a key priority.
The previous Criminal Procedure Code of 1961, which had remained in force for more than five decades, had become outdated, necessitating a comprehensive overhaul to align it with the FDRE Constitution, the country’s Criminal Justice Policy, and evolving international standards, while also accommodating emerging processes and technologies.
According to the Office of the Prime Minister, the newly adopted Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code is the result of extensive consultations conducted over several years. It represents a significant milestone in reforming Ethiopia’s criminal justice system by introducing comprehensive rules of evidence and addressing gaps in criminal investigation and prosecution.