Ethiopia: Information on kebele membership cards, including their purpose, whether they are mandatory, the minimum age to obtain one, and whether they are renewable or have to be reissued when one moves
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 August 1996 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ETH24530.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ethiopia: Information on kebele membership cards, including their purpose, whether they are mandatory, the minimum age to obtain one, and whether they are renewable or have to be reissued when one moves, 1 August 1996, ETH24530.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac3b38.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to a fax received from the Ethiopian embassy in Ottawa on 18 July 1996, kebele membership cards are not issued by the current government. In a 12 August 1996 telephone interview, however, an official at the Ethiopian embassy stated that the previous government issued kebele cards and these cards are sometimes used as identification cards because they include a person's name, address and kebele. These cards do not have the bearer's photo (ibid.). The official stated that while the old cards may still be in use, they are not mandatory (ibid.). The official added that foreigners are required to obtain identity cards that indicate where they live (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Ottawa. 12 August 1996. Telephone interview with official.
_____. 18 July 1996. Fax received by the DIRB.