Opposition party complains of intimidation

Tigray’s opposition party, Salsay Woyane Tigray, complained of intimidation and pressure against its candidates and observers during the regional election.

Party representatives announced the press conference Monday morning in Mekele town that serious irregularities were observed prior to election day and voting day. They said agents of the ruling party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), had been going door-to-door before the election, putting pressure on voters, telling them to vote for the ruling party.

The Salsay Woyane Tigray also said in the briefing that its candidates and observers had received “threats and pressure.”

“Using woreda and kebele institution, our candidates and members of their families were threatened; they were designated as enemies and treated accordingly,” a party representative said.

The party also accused the ruling party of “carrying out a massive defamation campaign using the regional government-controlled media and documents.”

During the vote count, the party said, there were places where observers were blocked from observing the polls.

The party said it has been advocating for the election to be held from the very start and described the election as “historic.”

“The party is proud of the fact that the people of Tigray have shown to the world that their right to self-determination that they have secured through sacrifice and victory would not be compromised in any way,” the party representative said.

However, the party said the election was marred by “shortcomings and obstacles” observed before and during the election.

Five political parties, Salsay Woyane Tigray, the Tigray Independence Party, Baytona Tigray, and Assimba Democratic Party participated in the vote. TPLF had a landslide victory in the elections, winning over 98.2 percent of votes. (BBC Amharic.)