Ethiopia gets Green light for 2021 election
The Ethiopian Minister of Health, Dr Lia Tadesse, told parliament that the country can hold the postponed election, likely mid 2021.
The health minister said Ethiopia has built the preventive and management capacity against COVID-19. After over a million tested, around 66,913 had the virus, however Ethiopia has one of the lowest death rates in Africa at 1.6 percent. Neighboring Sudan has 6.2% case-fatality rate while South Africa has 2.4 percent. Italy has the highest rate globally at 12.2 percent.
“Buckle up and fasten your seat belts, the game is on,” said Aman Reda, an official of EZEMA, the largest opposition group competing nationwide in Ethiopia. However, several officials of regional opposition parties; including Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC)and the Balderas for Genuine Democracy, remain in prison accused of involvement in the July violence.
Dr Lia said the upcoming election and campaigns must still follow social distancing and other strict safety guidelines, but did not provide details.
The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) will now be asked to create a new schedule. Meanwhile, the northern Tigray region completed an unauthorized election leading to 98% victory for the local ruling party. It is unknown how the official election in Tigray will be conducted in 2021 and if long disenfranchised citizens there can finally vote independently, particularly minorities including the Raya-Oromo community.
