The 1994 Constitution at Part I on Human Rights, makes...

The 1994 Constitution at Part I on Human Rights, makes provision for the death penalty. Article 15 on the Right to Life states that: "Every person has the right to life. No person may be deprived of his life except as a punishment for a serious criminal offence determined by law."
Art. 28 empowers the Head of State to commute the death penalty with life imprisonment in cases concerning crimes against humanity, that are barred from commutation by amnesty or pardon of the legislature or any other state organ.
Aggravated murder and crimes against the State or humanity. The Penal Code of 1957 prescribes the death penalty "in cases of exceptional gravity" for genocide, crimes against humanity (Art. 281); war crimes against the civilian population (Art. 282); crimes against the wounded, sick or shipwrecked persons (Art. 283); war crimes against prisoners and interned persons (Art. 284); pillage, piracy and looting (Art. 285).
The last execution in Ethiopia took place in 1997.