PREAMBLE#
We, the working people of Ethiopia, based on a centuries-old glorious history, are engaged in a great revolutionary struggle to extricate ourselves. from our current state of backwardness, and to transform Ethiopia into a socialist society with a high level of development where justice, equality and social prosperity prevail.
Ethiopia, the home of a brilliant ancient civilization, has been an independent state which has existed in continuity for many thousands of years. The Ethiopian state has existed as a multinational state. Its nationalities and diverse communities have forged a unity through cultural intercourse, migrations, commerce and similar interactions in times of peace as well as in times of war. Therefore, Ethiopia’s long history of independence has been the history of the united existence and common struggle of her nationalities.
On account of Ethiopia’s strategic location at the cross-roads linking the continents of Africa, Asia, and Europe, the fertility of her soil and the great rivers that originate inside her territory, foreigners have made various attempts to invade and divide her up. In particular, since the emergence of capitalism in Western Europe in the sixteenth century, colonialists repeatedly tried to bring Ethiopia under their control. However, the Ethiopian people have heroically and victoriously repulsed the repeated aggressive attempts of invaders and colonialists to occupy their motherland. Even when capitalism. evolved into the monopoly stage and imperialists set out to divide the world among themselves. Especially, the great victory scored at Adwa in 1896 over a colonial army that was modern by contemporary standards, has earned Ethiopia a special place of honor and a glorious history in the annals of the world anti-imperialist struggle. By achieving victory over the forces of fascist aggression through the struggle and sacrifices of her patriots during the five year period she, once again, proved that no power could prevent her from holding aloft the banner of her historic independence.
The Ethiopian people, by repulsing the aggressive attempts of their enemies and by scoring successive victories, have proved their indomitability and their zeal from freedom thereby ensuring the inviolability of their country. On the other hand, the working people of Ethiopia, having passed through different socio-economic systems in the course of their long history, have, in the process, experienced bitter class oppression and exploitation. In particular, it is well known that the relationship prevalent in the feudal system had subjected the peasants to the abhorrent yoke of oppression. Moreover, the people were victimized in the clashes frequently waged among the feudal lords, through various means robbed of the fruits of their labor and alternately subjected to hunger, disease and mass death.
The contradictions within the system having intensified with the emergence. of capitalism and the people having reached a stage where they could no longer bear the burden of oppression, the feudal system was overthrown through the great sacrifices made by the progressive sections of society. Thus, our popular revolution, which erupted in 1974 has paved the way for the current sovereignty of the people.
In the absence of organized vanguard leadership during the outbreak of the revolution, the Provisional Military Administrative Council, which was constituted from that segment of the armed forces, which formed an integral part of the working people, began to coordinate and lead the struggle. Subsequently, it laid the foundation for a new popular order by abolishing the monarchy and successively taking various revolutionary measures. Rural land, urban land and extra houses, and major enterprises of production, distribution and services, became the property of the people. Favorable conditions for the equality of nationalities, of the sexes and of religions have been created. The working people, organized in various sectors, have won the right to decide on the affairs of their country.
It is not without difficulty that we, the working people of Ethiopia, have been able to earnestly embark on the struggle to construct the new society in which justice, equality and prosperity reign. The primary task was to surmount the trying obstacles set in our path by our class enemies. Much as we have been struggling for our independence and unity in the past, so also today we have reached the present favorable period for rapid social progress by struggling for the attainment of our objectives under the banner of “Revolutionary Motherland or Death!”. Our primary concern at present being development, the overall objective is to lay the material and technical basis necessary for the construction of socialism by completing the National Democratic Revolution. However, since anti-revolutionary and anti-socialist imperialist and reactionary forces would not refrain from attempting to obstruct our genuine march on the path. of progress, withstanding their efforts constitutes another front of our struggle.
Having achieved the leadership of the Workers’ Party of Ethiopia, which is the fruit of our bitter struggle, we the working people of Ethiopia are now in a reliable situation for attaining our objective by developing our political culture. Accordingly, while upholding the trust of our forefathers, we are extensively engaged in the historic task of building the new social order. The completion of the setting-up of the new political system is a prerequisite for our efforts to yield fruit, thereby enabling us to attain our objective.
Therefore, we, the working people of Ethiopia, have by our referendum of 1 February 1987 approved this Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land and the basis for establishing and administering the People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and in which:
our sovereignty is expressed,
the unity of our country and the equality of nationalities, based on our right to self-determination, is ensured,
basic freedoms and rights are guaranteed and duties respected, a solid foundation for the construction of socialism is laid, and
we are enabled to make our due contribution to world peace, justice, democracy and social progress.