It is abundantly clear that over the last three decades, Ethiopia was able to hold five elections on a national scale. However, the trustworthiness and transparency of these polls were at the spotlight of disagreements drawing criticism from a wide variety of groups.
Needless to say, Ethiopia’s election comes at a very important juncture of reforms that has been taking place in the length and breadth of the country. It is no hyperbole to say going through a number of improvements, Ethiopia is bracing for one of the foremost landmark in the history of the country without doubt. With campaigns taking places warmly and voters’ registration almost on, many are hoping that the upcoming election would be fair, free and creditable and democratic more than ever before.
In the present climate, contending political parties are engaged in election campaigns on a national scale with the purpose of familiarizing their policies with the general public. Moreover, the government is doing its level best to make the upcoming election credible, democratic, and free and creating a conducive environment for contending parties. To make the election process free, fair, and democratic the role of the government, contending parties, civil societies and observers play a major role.
Last month, the European Union (EU) decided to send observers to Ethiopia for the upcoming general election. It is crystal clear that observers’ role in election is crucial in witnessing the overall process of the election and acquaint citizens with the entire process and credibility of the election. However, this week, the EU announced that it has canceled its observing role in Ethiopia’s upcoming election. The EU puts precondition to participate in the election process. Unfortunately, the precondition put by the EU is unacceptable by the government of Ethiopia in view of the fact that it is against the sovereignty of the country.
The government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is disappointed in the decision of the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to cancel the deployment of its observation mission for the upcoming general elections. The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia Ambassador Dina Mufti said that all possible efforts were made by the government to conclude the administrative arrangement for the deployment of the mission, but these were to no avail. When the EU requested to observe the 6th national elections earlier this year, the government of Ethiopia immediately accepted and started negotiating in good faith on the draft agreement for the deployment of the observation mission.
All concerned government institutions and the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) were engaged in the process, and while work was underway to finalize the agreement, the government also welcomed and facilitated the visit of the exploratory mission of the EU to Ethiopia two month ago. The exploratory mission had a productive stay and held discussions with various stakeholders. This was the impression the government obtained from the mission upon the completion of its work and whose recommendations later on led to the decision by the EU to deploy the observer mission.
While the government was working tirelessly and expeditiously hoping to reach an agreement on the modality of the deployment, it is very unfortunate that the issue of communications equipment was put forth as a deal-breaker for the EU to observe one of the most hoped-for democratic elections in the country’s history. The government of Ethiopia, from the beginning, has made it abundantly clear that VSAT services can only be provided by the Ethio-telecom while accepting additional requests by the EU to import related equipment.
As an important strategic partner and staunch supporter of the reform process, this demand by the EU has come as a surprise to the government of Ethiopia, as none of these elements were a bone of contention in past elections. At a time when the telecommunication infrastructure in Ethiopia has made huge strides employing the latest available technologies, questioning the effectiveness and efficiency of its services is not a convincing reason to take the hasty decision of canceling the mission’s deployment.
In the same vein, the EU has also rejected the proposal by the Ethiopian side to include in the agreement that statements by the observer mission prior to the issuance of its preliminary findings and conclusions not be prejudicial to the election process or influence the perception of the public, on the result of the election to be announced only by NEBE. This concern stems from the fact that in the past, such pronouncements by other EU observer missions had serious repercussions on the country as a whole.
The Government is committed to making the upcoming elections free, fair, and democratic. External observers could add some value to strengthen the quality of electoral processes but they are neither essential nor necessary to certify the credibility of an election. The validity and legitimacy of Ethiopia’s election are determined solely by Ethiopian laws, Ethiopian institutions, and ultimately, by the people of Ethiopia.
Head Public Relation of Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice (EZEMA) party Natnael Feleke told The Ethiopian Herald that election is determined by the people of Ethiopia. Besides, the involvement of observers plays a major role in the election process given that they add value to the election.
The validity of the election will be decided only by the government and the people of Ethiopia. The upcoming election is expected to transcend the country to the path of democracy. Moreover, the people of Ethiopia are actively participating in securing the voting card, and looking forward to the upcoming Election Day to come.
He went on to say, “The decision of the EU to cancel the observing status will not affect the election process at all. It will further enhance and open space for the involvement of homegrown non-governmental organizations and civil societies to participate in the election process. Their presence will add something to the election process. But the absence of EU’s observers will not affect the acceptance and legality of the election.”
President of Social Democratic Party (SDP) Professor Beyene Petros said that the absence of EU observers will not affect the upcoming election. It will rather strengthen local observers. Their presence will add value to the upcoming election but their absence will not affect the election process at all.
“Most of the time the union partakes in various parts of the world to observe various elections, but they are not seen carrying out their duties and responsibilities as they should be. As I have played a part in a range of elections in Ethiopia, the union sometimes acts as tourist forgetting the intended target. Their absence will further open space for domestic organizations to observe in our own capacity and make the upcoming election free, fair, and democratic,” he continued.
“As civic societies that operate all over the country are more than enough to observe the election that is going to be held on a national scale, they can play a paramount role in making the upcoming election creditable.” he wrapped up.
BY HAILE DEMEKE
The Ethiopian Herald May 8/2021
