Authorities in Addis Ababa have sealed nearly 3,000 small shops across commercial corridors from Bethel to Ayat. The closures, enforced since last September under the city's 2011 lease law prohibiting commercial use of residential properties, have left traders in legal limbo. Some continue hawking goods from balconies, while others remain fully inactive.
In Addis Ababa's commercial corridors from Bethel to Ayat, including Alem Bank and Salite Mihir, the once-busy informal trade areas have fallen silent with the clang of metal shutters replaced by quiet. Since last September, district authorities have sealed nearly 3,000 small shops, enforcing the city's 2011 lease law that prohibits using residential properties for commercial purposes.
Traders are now caught in legal limbo, with some resorting to hawking goods from balconies while others have been forced into complete inactivity. This enforcement has created a stark quiet in areas previously filled with the hum of street-level business.
Nahom Ayele, Fortune staff writer, reports on the situation, highlighting how the 2011 lease law's implementation is severely impacting small business owners, particularly in informal sectors.