WHEREAS, Ethiopia is providing asylum and protection to refugees and promoting the search for durable solutions whenever conditions permit;

WHEREAS, Ethiopia has ratified International Treaties relating to Refugees and make integral part of the law of the land ; and is party to the OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, done in Addis Ababa;

WHEREAS, it is necessary to have a comprehensive legal framework, in accordance with international standards, that contains rights and entitlements embodied in the aforesaid International Conventions, provides better protection to refugees and promotes sustainable solutions;

WHEREAS, the existing Refugee Proclamation No. 409/2004 is not painstaking and does not reflect the current overall developments and progresses made in refugee protection, it has become necessary to enact a new Refugees Proclamation to improve, within available means, comprehensive protection and assistance to refugees;

NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with Article 55(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, it is hereby Proclaimed as follows