Ethiopia’s legal system is based on the 1960 Civil Code, with family matters updated by the 2000 Revised Family Code. Parentage rules state:
(a) The birth mother is the legal mother (Article 126).
(b) The husband at birth is presumed the father (Article 128). Outside marriage, paternity requires acknowledgment or judicial proof (Article 131).
For informal sperm donation (AI or NI), no specific provisions exist. A donor risks legal paternity if biologically proven in court (Article 131), with no exemptions.
Assisted Reproduction:
As of 2025, Ethiopia has no comprehensive laws regulating assisted reproductive technology (ART). Limited fertility services exist in private clinics in Addis Ababa, but clinical ART is unregulated and rare.
Informal sperm donation is unregulated and uncommon, shaped by cultural norms (60% Christian, 35% Muslim, traditional beliefs) favoring marital reproduction. Donors lack legal protection.
Single women face societal and practical barriers to ART; same-sex couples are excluded due to the criminalization of homosexuality (Penal Code Article 629, up to 15 years imprisonment).
Sperm Donor Agreements:
No legal framework supports informal sperm donation contracts. The Revised Family Code (Articles 128-131) prioritizes statutory paternity over private agreements.
A donor could face child support obligations if paternity is judicially established, with no statutory safeguards.
Surrogacy:
Surrogacy is unregulated. The Revised Family Code (Article 126) designates the birth mother as the legal mother, implying no recognition for surrogacy agreements.
Cultural resistance and limited medical infrastructure make surrogacy rare; international arrangements would require court validation, which is unlikely.
Parentage Agreements:
Parentage is formalized through marriage or judicial processes under the Revised Family Code (Articles 128-131). Informal agreements are unenforceable without court approval.
Courts prioritize child welfare and biological ties over donor intent, with moderate judicial capacity in urban areas.