Ethiopia to probe election fraud allegations
ADDIS ABABA, June 20 (Reuters) – Ethiopian election authorities pledged on Monday to investigate allegations of election fraud that fanned violence earlier this month killing at least 36 people in the capital Addis Ababa.
But the Ethiopian Election Board said its review panel would only investigate alleged irregularities in 136 of the 299 constituencies where opposition parties are complaining of fraud by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s government.
Meles, feted by Western leaders and once hailed by U.S. President Bill Clinton as part of “a new generation” of African leaders, is under pressure to demonstrate transparency.
Good governance by African leaders is one of the key issues under the spotlight ahead of the summit of G8 rich nations in Scotland next month, which will focus on how to help Africa.
“Of the 299 constituencies where it was alleged that fraud and rigging had taken place, investigation will take place only in 136 constituencies,” the election board said in a statement.
“Complaints logged on the rest of the constituencies were found not to be properly documented and unsubstantiated.”
The Horn of Africa nation — which the U.S. government views as a key ally in its anti-terrorism drive — has 527 electoral constituencies.
Claims of fraud in the May 15 parliamentary poll sparked protests two weeks ago in Addis Ababa, with at least 36 people killed when police opened fire on rock-throwing protesters.
According to provisional results announced by the election board, Meles’ ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and its allies have won enough seats in the federal parliament to form the next government.
But the main opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) says the results are meaningless until voting irregularities are probed.
Final results are due on July 8.
The election was only the second true multi-party poll in Africa’s top coffee producer, the second most populous country in sub-Saharan Africa with 72 million people.
The opposition CUD expressed concern about the make-up of the review panel, saying it should comprise independent legal experts.
“The members of the review committee as it stands now are employees of the board whose neutrality we question,” CUD representative Gizachew Shiferaw said.
Meles has ruled Ethiopia since he deposed Marxist dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1974.