Ethiopia to hold national elections on August 16 as new delegation to PAP may emerge

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed

The composition of Ethiopia’s delegation to the Pan African Parliament (PAP) may change as the country’s electoral body, National Elections Board of Ethiopia, NEBE, has announced August 16, 2020 as a tentative date for national elections in the country.

Under PAP’s Rules of Procedure, a new five-member Ethiopian delegation to PAP is expected to be elected by the national parliament after the August national election and inauguration of a new parliament. This new delegation will then be sworn in as members of PAP during the October 2020 session.

The electoral body however added that a final date will be announced on February 1, 2020 after consultations with relevant stakeholders adding 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.

The proposed election will be the first national poll to be conducted under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed whose widespread reforms since April 2018 opened Ethiopia’s hitherto shrunk political and democratic space.

Ethiopia, which is Africa’s second most populous nation held its last polls in 2015. The outcome was contested as the now defunct EPRDF and allies swept majority of seats in parliament.

Under Mideksa, the NEBE’s last major electoral duty was when it successfully organized a referendum in the southern region for Sidama Statehood in late 2019. The conduct of the polls was largely praised as smooth with YES voters winning by a landslide that ushers in Ethiopia’s 10th regional state.