US groups say expulsions risk credibility of Ethiopian elections
ADDIS ABABA, April 15 (AFP) — Two US democracy advocacy groups said this week that the expulsion of their staffs from Ethiopia last month raise questions about the credibility of the country’s upcoming elections.
The National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI) expressed “concern” and “dismay” at the March 30 expulsions that they said were the first by any government in the world of their workers.
“In over 20 years of working around the world, until now no government has expelled NDI, IRI and IFES,” they said in a letter to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi that also referred to a third US group kicked out of the country.
“We are particularly perplexed by these expulsions at a time when your government has stated its intention to organize an open and democratic election process,” they said.
“This action will only raise questions about the credibility and transparency of these elections,” they said.
The letter, signed by former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright, the NDI chairwoman, and Senator John McCain, the IRI chair, was sent to Addis Ababa’s embassy in Washington on Wednesday and seen by AFP on Friday.
Ethiopia expelled NDI, IRI and IFES, formerly the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, because they had not registered with proper authorities, prompting Washington to express “disappointment” in the decision.
The three US-funded non-partisan groups, which promote democracy and good governance around the world had been working in the country to assist in preparations for hotly contested May 15 general elections.
They acknowledged that they were not registered at the time of the expulsions but said they had been attempting to obtain the necessary accreditation since January to no avail.
“All three organizations have been making good faith efforts to gain registration in accordance with established laws and procedures and were assured by representatives of your government that their registration would be approved expeditiously,” Albright and McCain said.
They asked Meles, who is currently on an official visit to France, to reconsider the expulsions and allow the three groups back into the country ahead of the polls.
The expulsions were announced as the election campaign heated up with the government and opposition trading charges of impropriety and followed the release in February of a US report critical of Ethiopia’s human rights record.
There was speculation in diplomatic circles that the move may have been related to Ethiopia’s unhappiness over the report but officials in Addis Ababa denied this and noted that US groups had been invited to observe the polls.