Ethiopia announces tentative date for 2020 polls

ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopia will hold polls tentatively on August 16th, the electoral body has announced, the first competitive election under PM Abiy Ahmed.

National Elections Board of Ethiopia said the outcome of the polls will be declared between August 17th and 26th in compliance with the law.

It will be the first competitive polls since 2015 when the Horn of Africa nation held polls in which the EPRDF coalition easily won.

Birtukan Mideksa, the body's chair, said plans to hold polls in May were postponed "as neither authorities nor parties would be ready".

Final date to be announced in Feb

A final date is expected to be announced on February 1, 2020, after the board takes into consideration inputs from the public and other stakeholders.

She added that postponing elections beyond September 2020 will raise legal questions.

The NEBE position was communicated during a dialogue organized by the Birtukan Mideksa-led board and relevant stakeholders on matters relating to the much-anticipated polls.

Although it's the first polls under Mr. Ahmed, whose sweeping reforms have restored democracy in Ethiopia, they may not be competitive after all.

EPRDF coalition merger

Since 1991, the EPRDF coalition as won polls and formed subsequent governments, but August even could attract scrutiny from observers.

To foster unity within his faction, Abiy has opted to fold the EPRDF coalition for a single Prosperity Party, which accommodates minorities.

Stakeholders settled on the merger last year, although a number of allies raised objections towards it, Addis Ababa Standard reported.

The radical reforms, even though they have paved the way to social-economic empowerment, they have, however, been linked to ethnic violence.

One opposition political party said Aug. 16 was unsuitable because it is a fasting day for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and falls during the rainy season.

"There are concerns that need to be resolved and addressed specifically on the schedule," Desalegn Chane, president of the opposition National Movement of Amhara, told Reuters.

Ethnic violence in Ethiopia

Since taking over in 2018, over 100 people have been killed in ethnic violence, with Oromiya and Amhara regions being the worst hit, police said.

At least 78 people were killed at Oromia region in October 2019, following violent protests waged by supporters of media entrepreneur Jawar Mohammed.

But Abiy Ahmed blamed it on Jawar, saying "some people without Ethiopian passport are out to cause chaos and uncertainty."

Similar antagonism has been witnessed in institutions of higher learning, with reports indicating that at least 5 students have since died.

William Davison, an Ethiopia analyst at the International Crisis Group think-tank, said the opposition could pose a real challenge to the ruling party.

"An overall majority for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's party is by no means guaranteed, especially if the opposition is allowed to freely campaign," Davison said.

Ethiopia is one of Africa's most populous region with over 100 million people. Over 60 million are expected to cast their votes.

Abiy Ahmed's puzzle

Mr. Ahmed was last year awarded the Nobel Peace Prize award following his historical truce with neighboring Eritrea.

Besides the ethnic violence in Ethiopia, Abiy is also facing pressure in Somalia, over alleged interference of state regions using non-AMISOM troops.

Jubaland authorities, for instance, accused Abiy Ahmed of "working with FGS to infringe our territorial integrity and we won't allow it."

Also, the construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam along the Blue Nile has caused a rift between Addis Ababa and Egypt, BBC reported.

Whether or not Ahmed will manage to clinch his second term, it's only time shall tell. The date for official campaigns shall be announced.

GAROWE ONLINE