Ethiopia’s parliament on Tuesday approved the lifting of the state of Emergency in light of improved security situations in the country.
The parliament approved the emergency measures, cutting short by three months amid reports of peace talks between the government and the rebel Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
Of the 312 lawmakers who attended the session, 63 opposed lifting the state of emergency, while 21 abstained from the vote.
The emergency measure was declared last November amid swift advances of rebel forces to the capital Addis Ababa.
Most of the rebel forces pushed back to their home region of Tigray but there is still fierce fighting between Afar and TPLF forces in Afar region of Ethiopia.
Tuesday’s vote by the lawmakers came after Ethiopia’s Council of Ministers, chaired by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, decided on Jan.26 to end the state of emergency originally imposed for six months.
Ahead of Tuesday’s vote, an advisory committee within the Ethiopian parliament said the lifting of the state of emergency will help revive the country’s economic and diplomatic situation’
Parliament speaker Tagesse Chafo said the committee believes the country’s security threats can now be dealt with by regular law enforcement mechanisms.
MG/abj/APA