Vote counting has continued across several regions in Ethiopia, two days after general elections widely expected to deliver a victory for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s ruling Prosperity Party.
The elections were marked by insecurity in parts of the country, while a heavy military presence was deployed in the capital, Addis Ababa, to maintain order during voting.
Chairperson of the National Election Board, Melatework Hailu, said counting had not yet been completed in Sidama, Gambella, Amhara and Somalia regions, and remained largely ongoing in Addis Ababa.
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“Vote counting has not yet been completed in the Sidama, Gambella, Amhara, and Somalia regions, and largely remains ongoing in Addis Ababa,” Hailu said.
She attributed the delay to long queues experienced on Monday, despite the extension of voting hours until midnight.
“The delay is primarily due to the long queues observed on Monday, despite the extension of voting until midnight. Vote counting is still in progress,” the Chairperson explained.
Hailu also confirmed security incidents at polling stations in Oromia and Amhara regions, describing them as volatile areas.
She said voting resumed in some affected locations but did not take place in 143 polling stations, adding that it remained unclear whether voters would be given another opportunity to cast ballots.
“There is nothing new at this time regarding polling stations that have not opened and where voting has not yet taken place due to security issues. The situation remains as it is,” she said.
According to her, voting was conducted in about 50,000 polling stations to elect more than 500 members of the House of Representatives and local government councils.
Hailu said accredited civil society organisations, as well as observers from the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), monitored the electoral process.
She said the election had been conducted successfully in line with the law, adding that the final outcome would be announced once counting is completed.
The Tigray region did not participate in the poll, with organisers citing “unfavourable conditions” following a two-year civil war and ongoing political instability.
The region has not had federal representation for six years.
Africanews
