Commission proposes election date
Publish date: 20 January 2020
Issue Number: 856
Diary: IBA Legalbrief Africa
Category: Ethiopia
Ethiopia's electoral commission last week proposed that this year's elections – the first under reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed – should be held on 16 August. It has released a draft schedule that also says voter registration should take place for one month from 7 April. BBC News reports that there have been growing calls among political parties to have the elections postponed until next year. However, Abiy who wants to fight this election at the helm of a new party created from a merger of parties in the governing coalition, said it was the only way of transitioning the country to a full democracy.
