Addis Globe, September 2020.

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, Ethiopia has postponed the national election that was scheduled for August. Ethiopia’s parliament has made a decision to let the executive branch of the government including Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to stay one more year in office after elections planned for August were postponed.

The House of Federation has also gave a green light to extend the terms of federal and regional lawmakers until international health institutions have deemed the threat from coronavirus to be over, the Ethiopian News Agency reported on June. This makes Ethiopia to become one of the first African country to postpone election.

In his latest interview with the state media, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed that he “personally believe there will be elections in the year 2013 (Ethiopian Calendar)”. Ethiopian celebrate the start of 2013 on Friday.

He announced the new timeline for the election on the day that Tigray Region held its own parliamentary vote, defying a ban by the federal government. The ballot is a direct challenge to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, increasing political tensions in Africa’s second most populous country.

Several observers believe that the upcoming election will be a test of reforms unleashed by Abiy Ahmed and his Prosperity Party.

Photo : Screenshot from EBC Interview with PM Abiy Ahmed.