Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of the ongoing conflict in Tigray and other regions of Ethiopia, including the detainment of opposition leaders and activists, on that country’s planned federal elections.

The UK has consistently called for an end to fighting, and advocated for a political process as essential to bring a full end to fighting and a sustainable settlement for Tigray. On our most recent visits to Ethiopia the Foreign Secretary and both pressed these issues, and also raised concerns about wider unrest and political freedoms in Ethiopia.

In our evidence to the International Development Committee on 17 March, the British Ambassador to Ethiopia set out the difficulties and risks in running a credible and safe election at this time. With the military fully engaged in Tigray (and other conflicts in Ethiopia), some responsibility for the safeguarding of elections sites, staff and materials has been passed to other agencies. We have expressed concerns about the lack of security personnel guarding election sites during the voter registration process, and the lack of security provision for the transportation of materials to election sites. Inadequate security and operational provisions risk: i) voters and poll-workers not feeling safe to vote or work, leading to reduced turnout and/or polling stations not opening; ii) elections not taking place in some areas as polling stations cannot open or materials have not been distributed; and iii) opening up the process to intimidation and/or electoral manipulation.

On 14 April the British Ambassador (alongside Ambassadors and representatives from other Embassies) met the Deputy Prime Minister and Attorney General. The meeting discussed concerns about running an election in these circumstances. Ambassadors also raised concerns about the narrowing of political and civic space and arrests of candidates. The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia has now indicated a 2-3 week delay in the vote, from 5 June. Voters need urgent clarity on the arrangements. A core group of Ambassadors, including the British Ambassador, has been set up to continue coordinated engagement with the Government of Ethiopia and the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia and will push them on this point.