The press statement by the Ethiopian government martial law command post said individuals and groups have been calling and even physically confronting parliamentarians especially those from Oromia regional state to warn them from ratifying the martial law. The Ethiopian parliament is set to convene from its year recess on Friday, with the ratification of martial law across the country expected to be a top priority. Ethiopia council of ministers imposed martial law on February 15 amid sporadic protests and ethnic clashes especially in the two most populous regional states Oromia and Amhara. According to Ethiopian law, the federal parliament must approve by two thirds majority the institution of martial law within 15 days of the council of ministers to give it legal cover. Ethiopia had previously declared martial law in October 2016 in the wake of widespread protests in parts of the two most populous regional states.

Source: Ethiopian News February 27, 2018 13:18 UTC