The six-month decree, which required approval from two-thirds of lawmakers, has been condemned by several of Ethiopia’s allies including the United States and the European Union. The ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) — and its associated parties who control all seats in the legislature — passed the decree with 346 votes in favour. But 88 MPs voted against the measure, seven voted to abstain and 98 lawmakers who were present did not vote at all, a shift from the last emergency decree nearly two years ago, which parliament approved unanimously, according to the state-run Ethiopian News Agency. “Under the last state of emergency, we documented a series of grave human rights violations,” the rights group’s secretary general Salil Shetty said in a statement. The latest state of emergency was declared in the wake of Hailemariam’s surprise resignation.

Source: Ethiopian News March 02, 2018 12:56 UTC