2024-01-14 09:53:31
Ethiopia is preparing to introduce a mandatory national digital identity card to access government services. Implementation at the national level is carried out in stages between government offices. The move marks a paradigm shift, as citizens without a digital ID will not be entitled to use public services.
Yodahe Zemichael, az Ethiopian national identity program according to its director, the long-term goal of the program is to integrate some basic public services into the digital ID system.
We plan to integrate all services into the digital identity card. This was the vision of the manifesto and that is why we allocated resources.
Yodahe stated.
Declaration on digital identity
In March 2023, lawmakers approved the Digital Identity Statement. The proclamation does not oblige citizens to register, but grants institutions the right to refuse services.
Institutions can legally refuse the service if their customers do not have a digital identity card.
Yodahe stated.
Yodahe highlights the importance of the ID card as a system for creating an identity trail, a mechanism for creating social capital and ensuring accountability.
Without trust, there would be no progress.
In November 2023, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated:
A person without a digital identity card is like a car without a license plate.
Last month, the program received a major boost following receiving $350 million from the World Bank.
Biometric registration
As part of the program, around 500 biometric registration packages will be distributed throughout Ethiopia. At the same time, licenses were issued to various institutions to facilitate the registration of documents.
“For example, we cooperate with banks and provide 40-50 birr for each registered person,” said Yodahe.
In October 2023, the Ethiopian Bankers’ Advocacy Group issued a tender, asking suppliers to deliver an additional 6,000 biometric packages.
Yodahe revealed that government institutions such as the Ministry of Justice, the Document Authentication and Registration Service and the Ministry of Taxation have already implemented the requirement.
The Ministry of Justice issued a public statement indicating that the services can only be used with the national digital identity card. State Secretary of Justice Belayhun Yerga advised those requesting the service to prepare for these changes and make the necessary preparations.
Habtamu Hailemeskel, a consultant and lawyer specializing in business and investment law, is positive regarding the development.
Government institutions already require some form of identification to access services. In the future, we will replace it with a digital identity card and a central register.
he noted.
However, he expressed concern regarding the aggressive nature of the registration process, emphasizing concerns regarding the protection of personal data.
The law on the protection of personal data has not yet been adopted. In addition, the draft law gives control over data protection to another government body, the Ethiopian Communications Authority (ECA). This power should be given to an independent body responsible to the parliament in order to protect users’ data.
said Habtamu Shega.
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