ACE Electoral Knowledge Network

News

• Nov 18, 2009: Ethiopian election a campaign of intimidation, The Globe and Mail (2009) This article reports about the political campaign in Ethiopia 6 months before the May 2010 elections. Based on interviews and information from Negaso Gidada, a former Ethiopian President and currently an independent MP, it argues that the ruling party in Ethiopia is becoming more authoritarian as it is trying to prevent dissent and post-election protests similar to those from four years ago.
• Nov 11, 2009: Ethiopian opposition, ruling parties exchange allegations over upcoming elections, VOA News (2009) Eight Ethiopian opposition parties (the Forum) have accused Prime Minister Zenawi for abusing his power in order to crush opponents ahead of the elections. The Forum also denounced the Code of Conduct, noting that it fails to ensure the fairness of the vote.
• Nov 03, 2009: Ethiopia: Parties sign pact on electoral code of conduct, The Reporter (2009) After concluding their two-month negotiation this week, four political parties on Friday signed a comprehensive agreement at Sheraton Addis on a joint electoral code of conduct and its implementation guideline. The parties agreed to establish a joint council to handle problems related to election disputes. Forum for Democratic Dialogue (Forum), a group comprising of six parties and two prominent politicians which did not take part in discussions, said it considered the agreement reached between the four parties to be exclusionary
• Oct 20, 2009: Free and Fair Elections in a Police State, Ethiopian Review (2009) In his recent widely read analysis, Dr. Negasso flatly declared that there is “no level playing field” in Dembi Dollo, and by implication anywhere else in Ethiopia, to have a free and fair election in 2010.
• Sep 08, 2009: Ethiopians must be convinced that there is a meaningful reason to vote, The reporter (2009) Ethiopia is a young democracy. Its ongoing political evolution is a relatively recent phenomenon which began with the violent collapse of Emperor Haile Selassie’s regime in 1974 and the rise of Marxist derg regime of Colonel Mengistu Haile-Mariam. While Ethiopia’s political institutions like the existence of multi-party legislatures at the federal and regional levels might suggest to some the existence of longstanding federal democratic system, a closer examination reveals a country and political system in transition.
• Sep 04, 2009: Political parties to engage in a debate on an electoral code of conduct, The Reporter (2009) The EPRDF has acknowledged that the discussions held with opposition parties had demonstrated that there was a forum for political parties that are campaigning in a peaceful manner. It said that it had been offering constructive suggestions for a relevant discussion on the financing of parties organized by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE). Accordingly, it is undertaking various activities to hold similar discussions.
• Sep 02, 2009: Ethiopian opposition parties unsure of election 2010, Sub-Sahara Informer (2009) According to the current timetable by National Election Board, parties are required to have names of their candidates registered until the end of November 2009. Opposition parties on the other hand don’t seem to feel the same way. Many of the oppositions who are planning to take part in the election say they are already facing harassments and ‘undemocratic actions’ being perpetuated on them by the ruling party.
• Jun 24, 2009: Ethiopia Opposition alliance gears up for election, Capital Ethiopia (2009) The growing new opposition alliance, Forum for Democratic Dialogue (FDD), has finalised preparing an outline strategy for Ethiopian election 2010 and members are expected to endorse it shortly.
• May 22, 2008: NEBE:Statement by OFDM to boycott elections shameful,The Ethiopian News Agency (2008) Board Chairperson, Professor, Merga Bekana told journalists on Wednesday that OFDM has not yet notified the board about its withdrawal from the elections.
• May 22, 2008: Ethiopia opposition group to boycott local elections, SanDiego.com(2008) “We are getting out of the whole process. The whole process is an illegal process,” Beyene Petros, leader of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces, a national coalition of opposition parties, told The Associated Press.
• May 22, 2008: Candidates enter election canvassing, The Ethiopian News Agency (2008) More than 78,000 candidates running for the upcoming local and by election have begun election campaign in Bale zone of Oromia State, zonal election coordination office announced.
• May 22, 2008: Ethiopia: Opposition Seeks U.S. Support in 'Struggle for Democracy' Members Signed Document Voluntarily - Spokesman Ethiopia's main opposition, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) is seeking the support and backing of the United States government in its struggle for democracy in the country, its Spokesman said in an interview.