The Tigray election is the latest headache for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who has embarked Africa’s second most-populous nation on a reform path to open up the economy and political arena after decades of repression. The House of Federation’s decision “reaffirms its stance that Tigray’s election is unconstitutional,” said William Davison, the International Crisis Group’s senior analyst for Ethiopia. Approximately 3 million people are expected to vote in the Sept. 9 regional election, according to the newly formed Tigray Regional Electoral Commission, and results are expected by Sept. 13. Five parties are participating, including the TPLF and other smaller regional parties such as the Tigray Independence Party, which advocates for the secession of the region from Ethiopia. The Prosperity Party and the Tigray Democratic Party are both boycotting the elections.

Source: Ethiopian News September 05, 2020 16:30 UTC