Washington stated that racial violence and the detention of opposition figures will raise doubts about the credibility of the vote.

The United States expressed concern before the Ethiopian election, saying that racial violence and the detention of opposition figures would raise doubts about the credibility of the vote.

The second most populous country in Africa will hold elections on June 21. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who came to power in 2018, is seeking a new mandate. He promised to break with the authority of the past.

But the Nobel Peace Prize winner’s reputation has been tarnished by his military operations in the Tigray area. The United Nations warned on Friday that there are tens of thousands of children. Risk hunger.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement on Friday: “The United States is seriously concerned about the environment for the upcoming elections.”

“The detention of opposition politicians, the harassment of independent media, the partisan activities of local and regional governments, and the many inter-ethnic and inter-ethnic conflicts across Ethiopia are free and fair election processes and will Ethiopians consider them credible? Obstacles,” he said.

“It is especially disturbing to exclude most voters from this game due to security issues and internal displacement.”

Elections in Ethiopia are continuing after two delays. Last year, the electoral authorities postponed the polls due to the coronavirus pandemic, and then postponed voting from June 5 due to logistical issues.

The United States has always been an ally of Ethiopia, but it has become increasingly impatient with the handling of the conflict between Abi and Tigray.

In November 2020, fighting broke out in Tigray between government forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the former ruling party in the region.

TPLF led the coalition that ruled Ethiopia for nearly 30 years, until Abiy came to power after protesting on the streets. Abi reconciled with his old enemy Eritrea as soon as he took office, further alienating TPLF, and tensions are increasing.

Although Abiy promised that the military operations in Tigray will be short-lived, almost seven months later, fighting has continued, reports of atrocities are proliferating, and world leaders have warned of a humanitarian disaster.

The violence has killed thousands of civilians and forced some Two million From their home in the mountains.

In July last year, after a fatal protest after the killing of popular musician Hachalu Hundessa in Addis Ababa, security forces arrested the main opposition figure and fierce critic of the prime minister Jawar Mohamad.

In September, the authorities proposed Allegations of terrorism Oppose Jawar and several major activists. Jawar’s lawyers repeatedly claimed that he was being held for political views and called for his release.