PM Abiy meets with opposition parties and promises fair elections to Tadias magazine

Prime Minister Abiy meets with opposition parties and promises fair elections

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's office said the meeting was aimed at "highlighting the reforms needed for the upcoming elections to be free and fair, as well as the shared responsibilities of all" (Reuters).

Reuters

ADDIS ABABA – The Ethiopian Prime Minister on Tuesday met with members of 81 opposition parties to discuss ways to reform the electoral system, his office announced, while promising to open a political arena dominated by his coalition.

Abiy Ahmed has overthrown national politics since taking office in April by once again welcoming separatist and opposition groups in exile, releasing prisoners and appointing a dissident who was once imprisoned as the head of the electoral committee.

The meeting focused on "highlighting the reforms needed for the upcoming elections to be free and fair, as well as the common responsibilities of all," his office said on Twitter. None of the opposition groups made immediate comment.

Abiy's ruling EPRDF coalition is in power in Ethiopia – a major ally of Westerners in an unstable region – since 1991. The group and its affiliated parties currently hold all seats in parliament.

Last week, he appointed Birtukan Mideksa as head of the council preparing the next national elections, scheduled for 2020.

Birtukan was one of dozens of opposition figures arrested after a violent vote in 2005 – when an opposition coalition opposed the government across the country to challenge the EPRDF victory .

Security forces opened fire on crowds who took to the streets, accusing the government and the electoral committee of rigging the 2005 vote. Dozens have died.

Abiy, the first member of the predominantly Ethiopian group to lead a long-time Tiger-dominated coalition, has vowed to control the powerful security services and has begun consultations to amend an anti-terror law meant to criminalize dissent.

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