Ethiopia Updates Six-Decade-Old Criminal Code for Electronic Evidence

Mintesinot Nigussie

Ethiopia has overhauled its criminal procedure framework to formally recognise electronic evidence in court, replacing a code that had been in place since 1961 and did not account for digital forms of investigation or communication.

The new Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code, approved by the House of Peoples’ Representatives in early April 2026, introduces rules governing the admissibility and handling of digital material as part of criminal proceedings.

Under the law, electronic evidence is defined broadly as data or records stored on any device or system that can be read or processed by humans or computers. It includes electronic records, software applications and digital communications.

The legislation also allows law enforcement agencies to use court-authorised special investigative techniques, including the interception of telephone calls and other electronic communications, as part of evidence collection.

At the same time, it sets out grounds on which electronic evidence may be contested in court, particularly regarding authenticity and reliability, allowing both prosecution and defence to examine its credibility during trials.

Businesses in legal, technology and cybersecurity sectors are expected to benefit from the updated legal framework as it brings Ethiopia’s criminal justice system in line with modern digital realities.

Overall, the update to the six-decade-old criminal code marks a significant step in modernising Ethiopia’s legal system to accommodate electronic evidence and digital investigations.