Ethiopia election date opposed

Political groups in Ethiopia have raised concerns about an election timetable announced by the country’s electoral commission.

The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) proposed 16 August as the voting date and a month-long voter registration exercise to kickoff from 7 April.

Representatives of political groups, as well as civil society, have argued that since mid-August is the peak of the rainy season in much of Ethiopia voter turnout could be impacted.

NEBE chairperson Birtukan Midheksa also admitted that an August election posed logistical problems but added that legal and institutional reforms had made it impossible to conduct the election sooner.

She added that holding an election in September or October as was being suggested would be unconstitutional.

Previous elections have been held in May.

Some opposition politicians are questioning whether Ethiopia is ready to hold an election given security concerns in many places.