Main Ethiopian Rift landslides formed in contrasting geological settings and climatic conditions

Abstract. The Main Ethiopian Rift (MER), where active continental rifting creates specific conditions for landslide formation, provides a prospective area to study the influence of tectonics, lithology, geomorphology, and climate on formation. New structural morphotectonic data from central (CMER) southern (SMER) support model progressive change in regional extension NW–SE recent E(ENE)–W(WSW) direction, driven by African Somali plates moving apart with presumed contribution NNE(NE)–SSW(SW) controlled Arabian Plate. formation polyphase reactivation faults changing stress field significantly increase rocks' tectonic anisotropy, slope, risk slope instabilities forming. According geostatistical analysis, areas prone landslides MER occur steep slopes, almost exclusively formed normal fault escarpments. Landslide are also influenced higher annual precipitation, precipitation seasonality, vegetation density, seasonality. Deforestation is an important predisposition because rockfalls typically bushland, grassland, cultivated land cover. A detailed rift escarpment Arba Minch revealed similar affinities as MER. Landslides here closely associated steep, mostly faulted, slopes density vegetation. Active faulting forming main here, triggers seismicity seasonal precipitation. Mejo situated uplifting Plateau 60 km east Great Valley shows that occurrence strongly erosional deeply weathered Proterozoic metamorphic basement. Regional uplift, accompanied rapid headward erosion together unfavourable lithological conditions, formation; intense