Ethiopia's upcoming general election faces security concerns and opposition calls for postponement
via The Reporter Ethiopia8 hours ago6 min read
Ethiopia is preparing for its seventh general election on June 1, with electoral officials and the ruling party pushing to proceed despite opposition parties calling for a postponement due to security concerns. This contrasts with the 2020 election, which was delayed due to COVID-19, a decision then criticized by opposition parties. This year, opposition figures cite unfavorable conditions in regions like Amhara and Oromia, where conflicts with armed groups persist. The National Election Board of Ethiopia NEBE has categorized constituencies by security status, but opposition parties dispute this data, claiming it does not reflect realities on the ground and that they face difficulties registering candidates and campaigning. The NEBE plans a verification assessment to reconcile differing security analyses. Opposition parties, including the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Party EPRP, argue that the current environment is not conducive to free and fair elections, citing ongoing conflicts, arrests, and alleged pressures from the ruling party on voters and candidates. The NEBE has issued a warning against unconstitutional pressures on voters. Government officials, however, maintain the election must proceed to avoid a power vacuum, while also claiming efforts to create favorable conditions and engage with armed groups. Federal Police Commissioner Demelash Gebremichael stated that security forces are working to ensure the election and that there are no security issues that could a
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Original source
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Reporter Ethiopia.
