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Ethiopian Opposition, Prime Minister Accuse Each Other of Power Grab

Simon Marks

   ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopian opposition parties have accused Prime Minister
   Abiy Ahmed of using the coronavirus pandemic to delay elections and
   stay in power beyond his constitutional mandate.

   Abiy responded this week, accusing members of the opposition of using
   the COVID-19 pandemic to increase their own power and seed unrest in
   Africa's second most populous country.

   The core issue is when Ethiopia will hold national elections. They were
   supposed to take place August 29, but have been delayed because of
   COVID-19. The government's mandate expires at the end of September.

   Many opposition groups want to see a transitional government put in
   place after the mandate ends. That would grant them more
   decision-making power until the government holds elections and a state
   of emergency related to the pandemic has been lifted.

   Ethiopia has 194 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with four deaths.

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