Ethiopian parties threaten poll boycott

ADDIS ABABA – Three Ethiopian political parties yesterday threatened to boycott upcoming parliamentary elections in the remote eastern Somali state, citing a litany of complaints about ruling party conduct.

The Western Somalia Democratic party, the Coalition of Somali Democratic Forces and Dall-Wabi Peoples Democratic Movement said they would not take part in the August 21 polls unless immediate “corrective measures” were taken. “Our [participation] in the election depends on corrective measures to be taken by the National Election Board of Ethiopia (Nebe),” they said in a joint statement.For logistical reasons, voters in Somali state’s 23 constituencies are to cast ballots on Sunday for local and federal lawmakers under Ethiopia’s split election cycle that saw the rest of the country go to the polls in May.Fierce disputes that sparked deadly violence in the capital in June persist over alleged fraud in the May 15 elections for which final results show a ruling party victory.National opposition groups are now weighing a boycott of Parliament.- Nampa-AFP”Our [participation] in the election depends on corrective measures to be taken by the National Election Board of Ethiopia (Nebe),” they said in a joint statement.For logistical reasons, voters in Somali state’s 23 constituencies are to cast ballots on Sunday for local and federal lawmakers under Ethiopia’s split election cycle that saw the rest of the country go to the polls in May.Fierce disputes that sparked deadly violence in the capital in June persist over alleged fraud in the May 15 elections for which final results show a ruling party victory.National opposition groups are now weighing a boycott of Parliament. – Nampa-AFP