engage in any political activity without fear of intimidation and
harassment by Government authorities, nor were they able to cast a
vote for a Government of their choice effectively.
7. The Complainants state that due to this systematic repression of civic
space, the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Front (EPRDF) won all 547
of the parliamentary seats in the general elections and all but 21 seats
of the 1,987 the regional state council elections. According to the
Complainants, these results, which secured a 100% victory for the
EPRDF in Parliament, not only failed to live up to internationally
recognized standards for genuine elections but raised serious questions
about the transparency and fairness of the electoral process.
Articles alleged to have been violated:
8. The Complainants allege a violation of Articles 1, 9, 10, 11, and 13(1)
of the Charter by the Respondent State.
Prayers
9. The Complainants call on the African Commission on Human and
Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) to find the Respondent State in
violation of the abovementioned Articles.
10. The Complainants request, among other things, that the Respondent
State amends its laws and policies to conform to its national and
international obligations and also open up civic space in the country so
that the 2021 national elections may be carried out in a manner that
facilitates the full and free exercise of all Ethiopians’ right to vote.
Procedure
11. The Secretariat received the Complaint on 4 February 2016 and
acknowledged receipt on 9 February 2016.
12. At its 19th Extra-Ordinary Session held from 16 to 25 February 2016 in
Banjul, the Commission decided to be seized of the Communication.
13. Through Correspondence of 3 March 2016, the Complainant informed
the Secretariat that the Institute for Human Rights and Development in
Africa (IHRDA) had been added to the Communication as a coRepresentative.
14. The Secretariat acknowledged receipt of the correspondence, and the
title of the Communication was
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African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
31 Bijilo Annex Layout, Kombo North District,
West Coast Region, The Gambia,
Phone: (220) 230 4361 Fax: (220) 441 05 04
Email: au-banjul@africa-union.org
https:/achpr.au.int/