14 political parties’ licenses revoked

Ethiopia’s National Electoral Board on Tuesday revoked the licenses of 14 political parties which it said have failed to act in accordance with the law and their code of conduct.The board in a statement explaining the move claimed the unnamed parties in question had failed either to replace leaders who had finished their terms, summit audited resource and debt report or notified the board about the whereabouts of their head and branch offices.

According to the board, the parties had flouted a key code by not summitting documents containing the names and addresses of their auditors and their signatures, demonstrating their consent to serve in that capacity.

The board however stopped short of naming the political parties in question.

No party has reacted to the board’s decision.

The sanctions against the parties come exactly one year after the country’s parliamentary elections which were won by the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) securing 500 of the 547 seats that were up for grabs.

Based on the revised political parties’ registration proclamation number 573/2000EC, the board retains the mandate to register, support, follow up and supervise the activities of political parties.

The board also has the power and duty to cancel the licenses of political parties when they fail to act in accordance with the law.