(Addis Globe): In defiance of the federal government, polls opened on Wednesday and people voted in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region in a local election. Tigray vote is a direct challenge to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, increasing political tensions in Africa’s second most populous country.
Tigray officials opposed the government’s decision in March to postpone the national election and the extension of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s time in office because of the coronavirus pandemic. It has called any attempt to prevent Tigray regional vote from going ahead “declaration of war.”
But critics of the TPLF’s push for Tigray regional vote say the country’s former elite are simply using the vote as a direct challenge to Abiy and to further their own interests in national politics.
Asnake Kefale, an associate professor at the University of Addis Ababa, spoke to VOA via a messaging app. “The TPLF and sections of Tigray nationalists are talking about de-facto independence. I don’t think so. That will not be the case. Rather, they are creating such narratives to strengthen whatever claims they have in national politics. I don’t think Tigray will secede from the rest of Ethiopia.” “It’s a Marxist-Leninist organization. It didn’t allow any free competition in the last 27 years. They are very much mad and angry because they were pushed aside.”
The Tigray Independence Party, which was formed in June, says full secession from Ethiopia is ultimate goal. Party leader Girmay Berhe told VOA that he fully expected his party to gain its first seats in the regional parliament. He also said he thinks the election will draw a response from the federal government, likely pressuring people not to invest fueling tensions between the Amhara and Tigray regions.
On the eve of the Tigray regional vote, Prime Minister Abiy dubbed the poll a “merry-go-round” and said the failure of the region to participate in the upcoming national election would render the regional government totally illegitimate. “This election is illegal because only the National Election Board can conduct elections in Ethiopia,” Abiy said in an interview with the state broadcaster, EBC, on Tuesday evening. “TPLF’s rule over the region is extended until the upcoming election. If the party doesn’t take part in the general election, it won’t be acceptable.
As polls closed, the Tigray region’s communications office called the election a historic victory and great achievement. It labelled the federal government as “dictatorial” and said the vote was “vital for the Tigray people because it reassures their destiny and self-determination.”
Tigray TV, a regional broadcaster, said results should be announced Thursday.
Update: Tigray region gov’t congratulated the people of Tigray for taking part in the 6th round of regional election which it said was “peaceful, free, fair & participatory.” Muluwork Kidanemariam, Tigray Election Commission chief, told the BBC turnout was 97%. Polls are closed.
