Stop the demolition of Harari ancestral land
The Issue
TO: The Federal Government of Ethiopia, The Regional Government of Harari, The UNESCO World Heritage Centre, and International Human Rights & Cultural Heritage Organizations
SUBJECT: Urgent Demand to Cease Demolition of Harari Heritage Homes in Badro Bari, Stop Illegal Bidding of Ancestral Land, and Protect Harar's UNESCO World Heritage Status
STATEMENT OF URGENCY AND CONCERN
We, the undersigned members and supporters of the global Harari community and defenders of cultural rights, issue this urgent petition to denounce the recent unlawful demolition of historic Harari heritage homes in the Badro Bari area of Harar, Ethiopia.
This devastating action by government authorities has directly destroyed approximately 40,000 square meters of ancestral land, displacing families and leaving community members, most notably vulnerable Harari elders, homeless, traumatized, and dispossessed of the lands their families have inhabited for generations.
VIOLATION OF UNESCO HERITAGE STATUS AND INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS
In 2006, the historic fortified town of Harar Jugol was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its unique architectural, cultural, and urban heritage. The traditional Harari townhouses and surrounding historical footprints constitute the essential core of this international recognition.
By conducting wholesale demolitions in Badro Bari, the government is violating its legally binding duty under international law to protect, preserve, and safeguard this priceless global heritage. Destroying these homes severely threatens Harar’s World Heritage standing and risks irreparably severing the living cultural identity of the Harari people.
OUR DEMANDS
We urgently call upon the Ethiopian Government and local municipal authorities to take the following immediate actions:
- Cease All Demolitions: Immediately halt any ongoing and planned destruction of Harari heritage homes and historic structures across Harar.
- Stop Illegal Bidding of Ancestral Land: Terminate all illegal leasing, commercial bidding, and land allocation schemes involving confiscated Harari ancestral land in Badro Bari and surrounding areas.
- Provide Immediate Relief and Restitution: Deliver emergency shelter, medical support, and fair compensation to affected families, particularly elders, and guarantee full restoration and return of their ancestral lands.
- Uphold UNESCO Protection Commitments: Fulfill national and international obligations to preserve Harar Jugol’s historical boundaries, architectural integrity, and cultural ecosystem in direct consultation with traditional Harari community leaders.
- Establish Independent Oversight: Allow international cultural preservation experts and human rights observers to assess the damage and ensure transparent restoration.
CONCLUSION
The destruction of Badro Bari is not merely a loss of property; it is an existential threat to the living heritage, identity, and rights of the Harari people. We demand immediate accountability, an end to illegal land reallocation, and the preservation of Harar's sacred historical legacy for generations to come.
Sign this petition to stand with the Harari community and protect our irreplaceable heritage.
385
The Issue
TO: The Federal Government of Ethiopia, The Regional Government of Harari, The UNESCO World Heritage Centre, and International Human Rights & Cultural Heritage Organizations
SUBJECT: Urgent Demand to Cease Demolition of Harari Heritage Homes in Badro Bari, Stop Illegal Bidding of Ancestral Land, and Protect Harar's UNESCO World Heritage Status
STATEMENT OF URGENCY AND CONCERN
We, the undersigned members and supporters of the global Harari community and defenders of cultural rights, issue this urgent petition to denounce the recent unlawful demolition of historic Harari heritage homes in the Badro Bari area of Harar, Ethiopia.
This devastating action by government authorities has directly destroyed approximately 40,000 square meters of ancestral land, displacing families and leaving community members, most notably vulnerable Harari elders, homeless, traumatized, and dispossessed of the lands their families have inhabited for generations.
VIOLATION OF UNESCO HERITAGE STATUS AND INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS
In 2006, the historic fortified town of Harar Jugol was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its unique architectural, cultural, and urban heritage. The traditional Harari townhouses and surrounding historical footprints constitute the essential core of this international recognition.
By conducting wholesale demolitions in Badro Bari, the government is violating its legally binding duty under international law to protect, preserve, and safeguard this priceless global heritage. Destroying these homes severely threatens Harar’s World Heritage standing and risks irreparably severing the living cultural identity of the Harari people.
OUR DEMANDS
We urgently call upon the Ethiopian Government and local municipal authorities to take the following immediate actions:
- Cease All Demolitions: Immediately halt any ongoing and planned destruction of Harari heritage homes and historic structures across Harar.
- Stop Illegal Bidding of Ancestral Land: Terminate all illegal leasing, commercial bidding, and land allocation schemes involving confiscated Harari ancestral land in Badro Bari and surrounding areas.
- Provide Immediate Relief and Restitution: Deliver emergency shelter, medical support, and fair compensation to affected families, particularly elders, and guarantee full restoration and return of their ancestral lands.
- Uphold UNESCO Protection Commitments: Fulfill national and international obligations to preserve Harar Jugol’s historical boundaries, architectural integrity, and cultural ecosystem in direct consultation with traditional Harari community leaders.
- Establish Independent Oversight: Allow international cultural preservation experts and human rights observers to assess the damage and ensure transparent restoration.
CONCLUSION
The destruction of Badro Bari is not merely a loss of property; it is an existential threat to the living heritage, identity, and rights of the Harari people. We demand immediate accountability, an end to illegal land reallocation, and the preservation of Harar's sacred historical legacy for generations to come.
Sign this petition to stand with the Harari community and protect our irreplaceable heritage.
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Petition created on October 27, 2026