IFES - Ethiopia

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Ethiopia

Ethiopia is Africa’s oldest independent country. While it was briefly colonized by the Italians under Mussolini, it has been relatively free from the coups that have disrupted politics elsewhere in Africa. However, as one of the continent’s poorest states, its politics have often been disrupted by famine, drought and war. Its most recent conflict--which resulted in the secession of Eritrea--ended in 2000 and a fragile peace has held since then despite conflicts over the country’s new borders.

On May 15, 2005, Ethiopia held its third national elections. Accusations of vote rigging and irregularities forced the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) to delay release of the official results while it investigated complaints from 300 constituencies. The controversy led to protests in Addis Ababa and other provinces, in which Ethiopian security forces were accused of shooting at least 40 protestors. Police detained over 500 student protestors and arrested at least 50 people. Ethiopia’s main opposition group, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), has refused to accept the election results.

Past Projects

Elections Support

In July 2004, IFES conducted an assessment to evaluate Ethiopia’s electoral environment prior to the 2005 national and regional elections and the 2006 local elections. The assessment mission generated recommendations to support civic/voter education through civil society organizations (CSOs) engaged in the ad hoc Civic Education Group (CEG); fund domestic and international pre-election and election monitoring; provide training for political party poll watchers; organize candidate fora and media monitoring; and promote electoral conflict resolution.

In January 2005, IFES established a field office in Addis Ababa and began a project based on the recommendations of the 2004 assessment. The focus of the project was to build the capacity of civil society to develop and disseminate voter and civic education for May elections and 2006 local elections. All program activities in Ethiopia are currently on hold pending finalization of IFES’ registration.