Ethiopia to issue national ID cards to Rastafarian refugees

Ethiopia will issue national identity cards for the nearly one thousand Rastafarians who long have been seen as stateless in the East African nation. 
 
The decision means they can enter without visas and live without residence permits.

The move also affects Ethiopian Jews and foreign nationals who have made positive contributions to the country's growth.
 
Ethiopia's last emperor, Haile Selassie, granted land for the Shashamane settlement for black people who helped to fight off Fascist Italian forces in the 1930s.
 
Rastafarianism, which began after the emperor came to power, has followers who believe the emperor is god.

Source: NEWS24