EU prods Ethiopian authorities to ensure transparent, safe election process
Concerned with ongoing violence across Ethiopia, the Council of the European Union (EU) has called upon the government and local and regional authorities to ensure a transparent and safe process of the upcoming elections.
On June 21, a majority of Ethiopian voters will take part in elections, but some constituencies will vote at a later stage, in part due to security and logistical challenges.
“Ethiopia remains in a complex domestic situation,” said the EU High Representative in a statement ahead of the elections, noting human rights violations and political tensions, harassment of media workers and detained opposition members in the run-up to the polls.
According to the statement, the EU is urging Ethiopian authorities “to ensure a transparent and safe process, to guarantee the free and equal participation of all political parties and candidates who are running, to facilitate the participation of all citizens, to ensure freedom of the press and of expression as well as the safety of journalists, other media workers and election observers and to provide full logistical and administrative support to the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE).”
Also, calling on all actors to refrain from spreading hate speech and from calling for acts of violence, the EU stated that it “takes note of this important step and recalls the fundamental democratic right of all Ethiopian citizens to be able to vote, everywhere in the country.”
Aware of the importance of these elections for the political transition in Ethiopia, the EU has supported the electoral process and the work of the NEBE.
“The EU commends the efforts deployed by NEBE personnel around the country, and welcomes the public commitment of the Ethiopian government to hold democratic and peaceful elections. Yet, the EU regrets the impossibility of sending an election observation mission,” the High Representative said.
The statement pointed out that elections could be an important step in Ethiopia’s democratic process.
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The EU also recalled the importance to engage in and foster a comprehensive, inclusive and transparent national dialogue with the participation of women and youth and all relevant stakeholders, including civil society organizations, political parties and regional authorities, in order to strengthen democracy and to support conflicts resolution as well as reconciliation.
“The EU will stand by Ethiopia in the implementation of democratic reforms as well as reconciliation efforts that would emerge from an inclusive and transparent dialogue,” the High Representative concluded.
