Ethiopians voted Monday in national and regional elections overshadowed by the devastating COVID-19 pandemic and conflicts in the war-torn Tigray region, as many see the vote as the biggest test so far for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The election, delayed from last year, is at the heart of a reform drive by Abiy, whose rise to power in 2018 seemed to signal a breach of decades of authoritarian rule and led to him winning the Nobel Peace Prize the following year. He described the vote as “the country’s first attempt at free and fair elections.”
Long lines of voters were seen in some parts of the capital, Addis Ababa, as security intensified across Africa’s second most populous country. Military vehicles were parked in important places in the capital. More than 37 million Ethiopians were expected to vote. War and logistical issues meant that votes would not be cast in more than 100 constituencies out of 547 across the country.
“We need a government that gives us peace, unity and that will stop the murder everywhere, and we must also be drawn out of these ethnic divisions,” said voter Desalgn Shume. Abiy’s ruling prosperous party, formed in 2019 by merging groups that formed the former ruling coalition, is generally expected to consolidate its grip on power.
The party that wins the majority of the seats in the People’s Representatives will form the next government. Opposition groups have accused Ethiopia’s ruling party of harassment, manipulation and threats of violence that reflect past abuses.
Some prominent opposition parties are boycotting the election, especially in the country’s most populous region, Oromia. Others say they were prevented from campaigning in several parts of the country.
“My expectation is that (the election) will hopefully, with less difficulty, be carried out in a credible manner,” said opposition candidate Berhanu Nega with the Ethiopian Citizens’ Party for Social Justice during the vote.
Ethiopia’s chief of staff, Birtukan Midekssa, wrote in The National Interest, acknowledging “serious challenges” but noted that more parties and candidates are running than ever before. “I urge the international community to support Ethiopia on its democratic journey, however stressful and imperfect. That is it,” she wrote in the American newspaper.
Abiy is also facing growing international criticism of the war in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region, which was partly triggered by Tigray’s now fleeing leaders opposing Ethiopia’s postponement of elections last year, citing COVID-19. No date has been set for voting in Tigray’s 38 constituencies.
Tigray’s former leaders, who are fighting Ethiopian forces and those from the Eritrean neighborhood, have reported heavy fighting in recent days. Ethiopia’s defense forces have called the fighting challenging due to the uneven terrain. Thousands of civilians have been killed and famine has begun in what observers describe as a protracted guerrilla war.
Meanwhile, outbreaks of ethnic violence have killed hundreds of people in the Amhara, Oromia and Benishangul-Gumuz regions in recent months. A resident of the capital, who gave only his first name, Samuel, said he would not vote.
“Two or three years ago I would have voted for Abiy, but now there are many problems in our country,” he said. International concern has increased over the election. The United States has said it is “seriously concerned about the environment”. during which these forthcoming elections will be held, “and the European Union said it would not follow the vote after its request for the import of communications equipment was denied.
In response, Ethiopia said that external observers “are neither necessary nor necessary to certify the credibility of an election”, although it has since welcomed observers deployed by the African Union.
The UN Secretary-General has noted the “challenging” environment and warned of acts of violence.
“It is our duty to remain united and not the government,” said a resident of the capital, Eskedar Teklegiorges, over the weekend as hundreds of police marched in a show of force before the vote.
The Abiy Prosperity Party registered 2432 candidates in the election.
The second largest party, Ethiopian citizens for social justice, fielded 1,385 candidates. A total of 47 games competed. “Last time we had no choice, but this is completely different,” said Girmachew Asfaw.
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