Ethiopia delays polls again amid security, logistical challenges

Election board says delays in opening polling stations and voter registration have pushed back the voting day.

Ethiopia has delayed its national election again after some opposition parties said they would not take part and as a conflict in the country’s Tigray region means no vote is being held there, further complicating Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s efforts to centralise power. Birtukan Mideksa, chairperson of The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), “indicated that delays in opening polling stations and voter registration have pushed the voting day”, state news agency Fana reported on Saturday. Mideksa told Reuters news agency the election would not happen on June 5 as scheduled.