Ethiopia's National Electoral Board has suspended voting in several regions citing a breakdown in security, a move that threatens to undermine the credibility of the country's transition to civilian rule. The decision, announced late on Tuesday, affects constituencies in the Oromia, Amhara, and Somali regions, where clashes between rival ethnic groups have intensified in recent weeks.
According to a statement from the board, the suspension is a temporary measure to protect voters and polling staff. However, opposition parties have condemned the move as a politically motivated effort to suppress turnout in areas where the ruling Prosperity Party faces strong challenges. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission has expressed concern that the suspensions could disenfranchise millions of voters.
The security situation in Ethiopia has deteriorated significantly since the outbreak of civil war in the Tigray region in November 2020. While a peace deal signed in November 2022 ended the main conflict, violence has spread to other parts of the country, particularly Oromia, where the Oromo Liberation Army is active. In Amhara, tensions have risen over the government's decision to dismantle regional paramilitary forces. The Somali region has seen clashes between Somali and Oromo communities along the border.
International observers, including the African Union and the United Nations, have called for the vote to proceed as planned, warning that delays could exacerbate instability. The United States has urged the Ethiopian government to ensure a transparent and inclusive electoral process. The suspension of voting in key regions raises questions about the viability of the elections as a whole.
Ethiopia's election is seen as a critical test of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's promise to hold free and fair polls after years of authoritarian rule. The vote was originally scheduled for June 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic and later the Tigray war. Now, with less than a month to go until polling day on June 21, the suspension of voting threatens to derail the entire process.
The electoral board has not provided a timeline for when voting would resume in the affected areas. Analysts warn that if the suspensions are prolonged, the legitimacy of the entire election could be called into question. In the meantime, campaigning continues in regions where voting is still scheduled, though under a cloud of uncertainty.
