WHEREAS, it is found necessary to clarify and amend some provisions in the Criminal Code of the 2004 of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia relating to Corruption Crimes which are observed as unclear during their application;

WHEREAS, it has become necessary to include similar acts committed by the private sector particularly by those who administer funds collected from the public or collected for public purposes in the category of corruption offence;

WHEREAS, it has become necessary to categorize as corruption acts of bribery, embezzlement and other similar acts committed by the private sector as the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption which are ratified by Ethiopia impose such obligation on Member States;

WHEREAS, it is found necessary to rectify practical problems observed by enacting comprehensive legislation to strengthen the fight against corruption and to enable Ethiopia so as to discharge its continental and global obligations;

WHEREAS, it is found necessary to address corruption offences in a separate proclamation rather than make them part of the Criminal Code due to fast changing nature of the offences;

NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with Article 55 (1) and (5) of the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, it is hereby proclaimed as follows: