Ethiopia’s parliament has voted for an early end to a six-month state of emergency, declared in November 2021, following threats by rebel Tigrayan forces to march on the capital, Addis Ababa.
The lawmakers’ decision comes today, Tuesday 15, 2022, after cabinet proposals last month about cutting short the emergency measures in light of improving security conditions in the country.
After swift advances in November 2022, most of the rebel forces have retreated to their home region of Tigray, and there are signs of a cautious thaw in relations between the warring sides.
Of the 312 lawmakers who attended the session, 63 opposed the decision of lifting the state of emergency, while 21 abstained from the vote.
It was not immediately clear whether the state of emergency would be lifted on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, directly following parliament’s vote.
The six-month state of emergency allows, among other things, for roadblocks to be established, transport services to be disrupted, curfews to be imposed, and for the military to take over in certain areas.
Anyone suspected of having links with “terrorist” groups could also be detained without a court warrant, while any citizen who has reached the age of military service could be called to fight.
According to the Justice Minister, Gedion Timothewos, through a state media briefing when the emergency measures were declared said “Our country is facing a grave danger to its existence, sovereignty, and unity.”
“And we can’t dispel this danger through the usual law enforcement systems and procedures.”
Justice Minister, Gedion Timothewos
The move came after the Tigrayan fighters said they had captured the strategic towns of Dessie and Kombolcha in the Amhara region and indicated they might advance further south, on the capital of Addis Ababa. Both towns have since returned to government control.
In November 2020, Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed sent troops into Tigray in response to alleged attacks on army camps by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
The TPLF said the federal government and its allies, including Eritrea, launched a “coordinated attack” against it.
Abiy promised a swift victory, but by late June 2021, the Tigrayan fighters regrouped and retook most of the region. Fighting then spread to the neighbouring regions of Afar and Amhara, before the Tigrayan forces’ retreated to their region in December 2021.
According to the United Nations, the conflict has triggered a humanitarian crisis that has left hundreds of thousands of people facing famine-like conditions. Thousands of people have been killed and more than 2.5 million people forced to flee their homes nationwide since the war began.
Hundreds of mostly ethnic Tigrayans still remain in detention after being apprehended during the state of emergency.
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