Ethiopian general election, 1995
Encyclopedia
General elections were held in Ethiopia
on 7 and 18 May 1995 for seats in its Council of People's Representatives; elections in the Afar
, Somali
, and Harari Region
s were delayed until 28 June to assign experienced personnel who could solve possible conflicts and irregularities. Although this was the first multi-party election in Ethiopia, several opposition parties boycotted the election. The parties boycotting the election included the All-Amhara People's Organization
, Council of Alternative Forces for Peace and Democracy in Ethiopia, and Ethiopian Democratic Unity Party
.
fled the country, a national conference in July 1991 led to the creation of the Transitional Government of Ethiopia
(TGE). The TGE's main goal was to establish a Constitution for a federal republic
, as well as create orderly elections for the legislative arm of that republic. On 5 January 1995, the National Election Board of Ethiopia
(NEBE) set the date for the general elections which would mark the end of the transition, for May of that year.
Observers considered it a foregone conclusion that the majority of the 547 seats in the House of People's Representatives
would be won by the ruling coalition known as the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
(EPRDF), which had assumed power after overthrowing President Mengistu and had been the dominant force in the TGE. Primary opposition came from the small Ethiopian National Democratic Party, led by Nebiyu Samuel. Four of the seven national parties boycotted the poll, alleging unequal conditions for the various contending groups. Despite this, one source states as many as 2871 candidates competed for seats, although the NEBE reported 2741 candidates competed, consisting of 1881 people from 58 political organizations, mostly components of the EPRDF, and 960 independent candidates.
To handle the millions of citizens who came to cast their votes, 40,000 polling stations were opened. In addition to local observers Britain, the United States, Italy, France, Sweden, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, Canada, Finland, Norway, and Russia provided observers and the Organization of African Unity deployed 81 observers. The election process was reported to be peaceful with a high turnout in most polling stations throughout the country. Despite this impression of civil behavior, candidates of the Silte People's Democratic Unity Party were harassed, beaten, and prohibited from travelling; Dr. Asrat Woldeyes
, secretary-general of the All-Amhara People's Organization
, was arrested, convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment for being at a meeting at which armed activities against the TGE were allegedly discussed; and officials of the Ethiopian Democratic Unity Party
were arrested in Gondar
and Bahir Dar
.
.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
on 7 and 18 May 1995 for seats in its Council of People's Representatives; elections in the Afar
Afar Region
Afar is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, and is the homeland of the Afar people. Formerly known as Region 2, its current capital is Asayita; a new capital named Semera on the paved Awash - Asseb highway is under construction....
, Somali
Somali Region
Somali Region ; is the eastern-most of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia. It is often called Somalia, though it is not to be confused with the independent country of the same name. The capital of Somali State is Jijiga...
, and Harari Region
Harari Region
Harari or officially, Harari People's National Regional State is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, covering the homeland of the Harari people...
s were delayed until 28 June to assign experienced personnel who could solve possible conflicts and irregularities. Although this was the first multi-party election in Ethiopia, several opposition parties boycotted the election. The parties boycotting the election included the All-Amhara People's Organization
All-Amhara People's Organization
The All-Amhara People's Organization is an ethnic based political party in Ethiopia, whose leader was the late Asrat Woldeyes.At the last legislative elections, 15 May 2005, the party was part of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces, that won 52 out of 527 seats in the Council of People's...
, Council of Alternative Forces for Peace and Democracy in Ethiopia, and Ethiopian Democratic Unity Party
Ethiopian Democratic Unity Party
The Ethiopian Democratic Unity Party is a political party in Ethiopia.At the legislative elections held on 15 May 2005, the EDUP was part of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces, that won 52 out of 527 seats in the Council of People's Representatives.- History :The Ethiopian Democratic Union or...
.
Background
After President Mengistu Haile MariamMengistu Haile Mariam
Mengistu Haile Mariam is a politician who was formerly the most prominent officer of the Derg, the Communist military junta that governed Ethiopia from 1974 to 1987, and the President of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia from 1987 to 1991...
fled the country, a national conference in July 1991 led to the creation of the Transitional Government of Ethiopia
Transitional Government of Ethiopia
The Transitional government of Ethiopia was established immediately after the fall of the Dergue regime. It was led by Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia. Zenawi remains the prime minister of Ethiopia to this day....
(TGE). The TGE's main goal was to establish a Constitution for a federal republic
Federal republic
A federal republic is a federation of states with a republican form of government. A federation is the central government. The states in a federation also maintain the federation...
, as well as create orderly elections for the legislative arm of that republic. On 5 January 1995, the National Election Board of Ethiopia
National Election Board of Ethiopia
The National Election Board of Ethiopia is an autonomous government agency which supervises the national elections of Ethiopia. The NEBE was established by Proclamation number 64/1992, and answers to the House of Peoples' Representatives....
(NEBE) set the date for the general elections which would mark the end of the transition, for May of that year.
Observers considered it a foregone conclusion that the majority of the 547 seats in the House of People's Representatives
House of People's Representatives
The Federal Parliamentary Assembly of Ethiopia has two chambers. The lower house is the House of Peoples' Representatives with 547 members , elected for five-year terms in single-seat constituencies.-Speakers of the House of Peoples'...
would be won by the ruling coalition known as the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front is the ruling political coalition in Ethiopia. It is an alliance of four other groups: the Oromo Peoples' Democratic Organization , the Amhara National Democratic Movement , the South Ethiopian Peoples' Democratic Front The Ethiopian People's...
(EPRDF), which had assumed power after overthrowing President Mengistu and had been the dominant force in the TGE. Primary opposition came from the small Ethiopian National Democratic Party, led by Nebiyu Samuel. Four of the seven national parties boycotted the poll, alleging unequal conditions for the various contending groups. Despite this, one source states as many as 2871 candidates competed for seats, although the NEBE reported 2741 candidates competed, consisting of 1881 people from 58 political organizations, mostly components of the EPRDF, and 960 independent candidates.
To handle the millions of citizens who came to cast their votes, 40,000 polling stations were opened. In addition to local observers Britain, the United States, Italy, France, Sweden, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, Canada, Finland, Norway, and Russia provided observers and the Organization of African Unity deployed 81 observers. The election process was reported to be peaceful with a high turnout in most polling stations throughout the country. Despite this impression of civil behavior, candidates of the Silte People's Democratic Unity Party were harassed, beaten, and prohibited from travelling; Dr. Asrat Woldeyes
Asrat Woldeyes
Asrat Woldeyes was an Ethiopian surgeon, a Professor of Medicine at Addis Ababa University, and the founder and leader of the All-Amhara People's Organization , as well as a political figure who was jailed by the Derg and later by the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front .Professor...
, secretary-general of the All-Amhara People's Organization
All-Amhara People's Organization
The All-Amhara People's Organization is an ethnic based political party in Ethiopia, whose leader was the late Asrat Woldeyes.At the last legislative elections, 15 May 2005, the party was part of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces, that won 52 out of 527 seats in the Council of People's...
, was arrested, convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment for being at a meeting at which armed activities against the TGE were allegedly discussed; and officials of the Ethiopian Democratic Unity Party
Ethiopian Democratic Unity Party
The Ethiopian Democratic Unity Party is a political party in Ethiopia.At the legislative elections held on 15 May 2005, the EDUP was part of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces, that won 52 out of 527 seats in the Council of People's Representatives.- History :The Ethiopian Democratic Union or...
were arrested in Gondar
Gondar
Gondar or Gonder is a city in Ethiopia, which was once the old imperial capital and capital of the historic Begemder Province. As a result, the old province of Begemder is sometimes referred to as Gondar...
and Bahir Dar
Bahir Dar
Bahir Dar is a city in north western Ethiopia. It is the capital of the Amhara Region .Administratively, Bahir Dar is considered a Special Zone, placing it midway between Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa which are organized as chartered cities , and cities like Debre Marqos and Dessie, which are...
.
Results
The EPRDF and its allies captured 471 of the 547 seats in the Council, with other parties and independents winning the remaining 75 seats. Most of these seats won by other parties were in "frontier regions" -- Afar, Somali, Gambela, Benishagul-Gumuz, and Harar—which were allocated 57 seats. "Competitions in these frontier regions tended to be extremely complicated," notes Lyon, who records such incidents as two brothers who, at one point, offered different candidate lists for the Afar Liberation FrontAfar Liberation Front
The Afar Liberation Front is a political party in Ethiopia, commonly considered to be the most important organization dedicated to promoting the interests of the Afar people...
.
| Alliance | Party | Votes | % | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPRDF-allied | Oromo Peoples' Democratic Organization Oromo Peoples' Democratic Organization The Oromo Peoples' Democratic Organization is an ethnic-based political party in Ethiopia, and part of the alliance with the Amhara National Democratic Movement, the South Ethiopian Peoples' Democratic Front and the Tigrayan Peoples' Liberation Front that forms the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary... |
16,429,727 | 82.9 | 176 |
| Amhara National Democratic Movement Amhara National Democratic Movement The Amhara National Democratic Movement is a political party in Ethiopia.At the last legislative elections, 15 May 2005, the party was part of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, that won 327 out of 527 seats... |
133 | |||
| Tigrayan People's Liberation Front Tigrayan People's Liberation Front The Tigrayan People's Liberation Front , known more commonly and sometimes pejoratively in Ethiopia as Woyane or Weyane is a political party in Ethiopia... |
38 | |||
| Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front is the ruling political coalition in Ethiopia. It is an alliance of four other groups: the Oromo Peoples' Democratic Organization , the Amhara National Democratic Movement , the South Ethiopian Peoples' Democratic Front The Ethiopian People's... |
21 | |||
| Sidama People's Democratic Organization | 19 | |||
| Gamo and Gofa People's Democratic Organization | 15 | |||
| Gurage Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Organization | 14 | |||
| Wolayta People's Democratic Organization | 13 | |||
| Hadiya People's Democratic Organization | 9 | |||
| Gideo People's Unity Democratic Movement | 7 | |||
| Keficho Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Organization | 6 | |||
| Kembata Peoples' Democratic Organization | 4 | |||
| Dawro Peoples' Democratic Organization | 4 | |||
| Afar Peoples' Democratic Organization | 3 | |||
| Alaba Peoples' Democratic Organization | 2 | |||
| Gambela People's Liberation Party | 2 | |||
| Tembaro Peoples' Democratic Organization | 1 | |||
| Bench Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Organization | 1 | |||
| Konso Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Organization | 1 | |||
| Kore Nationality Unity Democratic Organization | 1 | |||
| Yem People's Democratic Front | 1 | |||
| Other parties and independents | Ethiopian Somali Democratic League Ethiopian Somali Democratic League The Ethiopian Somali Democratic League was a political party in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. It was the ruling EPRDF's regional partner from 1994 to 1998.- Overview :... |
3,369,563 | 17.1 | 17 |
| Independents | 10 | |||
| Southern Omo People's Democratic Movement | 7 | |||
| Southern Ethiopia People's Democratic Front | 6 | |||
| Benishangul North-Western Ethiopia People's Democratic Unity Party | 5 | |||
| Oromo Liberation United Front | 4 | |||
| Ogaden National Liberation Front Ogaden National Liberation Front The Ogaden National Liberation Front , is a separatist rebel group fighting to make the region of Ogaden in eastern Ethiopia an independent state... |
3 | |||
| Derashe Peoples' Democratic Organization | 3 | |||
| Afar Liberation Front Afar Liberation Front The Afar Liberation Front is a political party in Ethiopia, commonly considered to be the most important organization dedicated to promoting the interests of the Afar people... |
3 | |||
| Dizi Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Organization | 2 | |||
| Bench, Sheko, Dizi and Meinit People's Democratic Front | 2 | |||
| Argoba People's Democratic Movement | 1 | |||
| Kebena Nationality Democratic Organization | 1 | |||
| Mareko Peoples' Democratic Organization | 1 | |||
| Silte People's Democratic Unity Party | 1 | |||
| Burji Peoples' Democratic Organization | 1 | |||
| Hareri National League Hareri National League The Harari National League is a political party in Ethiopia. Its chairman, Murad Abdullahi, is also president of the Harari Region.The party celebrated its tenth anniversary 25 August 2001, under the leadership of chairman Fuad Ibrahim... |
1 | |||
| Western Somali Democratic Party Western Somali Democratic Party Western Somali Democratic Party is a political party in Ethiopia. It emerged out of the Western Somali Liberation Front in 1975... |
1 | |||
| Zeisei Peoples' Democratic Organization | 1 | |||
| Gambela People's Democratic Unity Party | 1 | |||
| Afar National Liberation Front | 1 | |||
| National Democratic Party | 1 | |||
| Invalid/blank votes | 159,889 | |||
| Total | 19,986,179 | 100 | 547 | |
| Source: Nohlen, et alia | ||||