Skip to main content

Ethiopia's Chief of the Electoral Board Resigns Amid Row with TPLF

                                    

Addis Ababa – Chief of the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), Birtukan Midekssa, announced on her social media page that she has resigned from her post as Chairwoman of the NEBE effective August 7, 2023. 

"I need to have a long term rest in order to maintain my health", she wrote on her facebook page.  Birtukan wrote that two weeks ago she had informed the office of the Speaker of the House of People’s Representatives (HoPR) her decision to resign "voluntarily". 

In the coming month as she prepares for her departure, she said she will be responsible for completing unfinished tasks and making administrative transitions.

A former judge and a veteran opposition party leader, she was appointed as Chairperson of the Board when the national parliament approved her nomination by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in November 2018.

“I had a dream of transforming our institution into a reliable and independent institution capable of conducting elections,” said Birtukan. 

She wrote she was proud of her achievements especially conducting referendums and national elections, and managing political parties in accordance with the law.

As Chair of the National Electoral Board, Birtukan oversaw the 2021 national election in spite of COVID-19 pandemic. Through her leadership, three referendums led to the formation of new states in Southern Ethiopia. 

Recently, however, she was accused by members of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) after she denied the political party from being reinstated after it was banned due to its engagement in armed conflict with the federal government.

Professor Kindeya Gebrehiwot, Central Committee member of the TPLF, said in his interview with The Reporter that the decision to reject TPLF's request to become a legal political party was wrong and politically motivated. 

"We do not have to speak with the electoral board. We are discussing with the government since this is a political move and can only be solved politically. As a part of the Pretoria Agreement, the HoPR has removed TPLF from the terrorist list. And we have no need to deal with the electoral board since it is beneath the HoPR. Our discussions with the government are bearing fruit", said Professor Kindeya.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

State of Emergency declared in Ethiopia's Amhara region

August 04, 2023, ADDIS ABABA – Today, Ethiopia’s Council of Ministers declared a State of Emergency in Amhara Regional State following a slowly escalating military confrontation between Fano militia and regional security forces as well as Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF).  This decision comes after the Amhara Regional State President, Dr. Yilikal Kefale, called on the federal government to intervene and take measures against the Fano armed group. “It is essential to take emergency actions to maintain public safety and security and to enforce law and order", read the statement from the Council of Ministers. The Council stated that the government has been making repeated calls for peace so that all armed groups follow the path of the law and peace. However, the statement read, the “political, social and economic activities of the region is heavily hampered because of the attacks being carried out by armed extremist groups.” Yesterday, the President of Amhara Regional State,

Thousands Attend Funeral For Four Muslims Killed By Police In Addis Ababa

                                           ADDIS ABABA – Thousands of Muslims gathered today for the funeral of Anwar Surur, Zubair Mudasir, Ibrahim Danbal and Jemil Redwan killed by police in Addis Ababa following Juma'a Friday Prayers at the Grand Anwar Mosque. Three of the four Zubair, Anwar and Ibrahim were killed yesterday after the Juma'a prayers were completed at the Grand Anwar Mosque while Jemil Redwan, was among those who were seriously injured in last week’s crackdown and has since been receiving medical treatment before he succumbed to his injuries. Their bodies were laid at Addis Ababa Kolfe Muslim Cemetary. And from yesterday's shooting Mukerem Asrar, Yonatan Mulugeta and Tadele Wabada are said to be in a critical condition at AaBET hospital, Addis Ababa. Reports also indicate that Yonatan and Tadele were shot while heading to work. Siraj Mohammed and Abubaker Elias were killed by police last week, May 26, when Muslims protested the demolition Mosques in Sha