Ethiopia has postponed its national election that was scheduled to hold on August 29. An estimated $100 million was allocated for the election through international support and from donors alike.
The National Electoral Board disclosed that because of the global pandemic there was no option but to cancel. Although the preparation was already behind schedule by weeks and now considering the existing realities had no choice but to postpone the elections.
Ethiopia has recorded 29 cases of COVID-19 within its shores, and alongside bans of mass gatherings, closing schools, suspensions of regional and interstate transportation services and people, the postponement of the election is a step to further ensure that the spread is contained.
Activities such as pre-election registrations, gatherings of election attendants as many as 150,000 and producing printed materials all would have hampered the containment strategies.