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The Ethiopian Parliament will meet in an emergency session on Monday, August 14, 2023, to approve a state of emergency declared in the Amhara region last week.
The state of emergency was declared by the Council of Ministers on August 8, 2023, citing instability and armed violence in the region. The decree was made effective immediately, but it still needs to be approved by parliament within two weeks in order to remain in effect.
The speaker of parliament, Tagesse Chaffo, called for the emergency session during the representatives’ recess period. This is a time when the speaker can convene parliament to discuss urgent national matters.
If approved by parliament, the state of emergency will give security forces sweeping powers to restore order and stability in Amhara. This could include the power to detain suspects without charge, restrict freedom of movement, and censor the media.
The state of emergency is the latest attempt by the Ethiopian government to quell the violence in Amhara. The region has been rocked by violence since last month, when the Amhara Fano militia clashed with the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF). The clashes have left hundreds of people dead and displaced thousands more.
The government hopes that the state of emergency will help to bring an end to the violence and restore stability to Amhara. However, it is unclear whether the measure will be successful. The Fano militia is a powerful force, and it is unclear whether the security forces will be able to defeat them.
The emergency session of parliament is scheduled to begin on Monday at 10:00 AM local time. It is expected to last for several days.
