Ethiopia lifts National Emergency imposed in November last year

Ethiopia has lifted a six-month-long National Emergency. Today Ethiopian Council of Ministers met under the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmad to consider the lifting of the National Emergency.

At the start of November last year, the Ethiopian House of Representatives imposed National Emergency. The decision was made to stop Tigray’s military advance. Tigray forces were threatening to remove Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmad’s government by reaching Addis Ababa in November 2021.

After the imposition of the National Emergency, TDF suffered several military setbacks in Amhara and Afar regions. Ethiopian government forces deployed combat drones purchased from Turkey and UAE. The drones tilted the balance of power in favor of the Ethiopian government forces.

At the start of last month, Tigray forces had to retreat back into Tigray. But fighting is still underway in Tigray-Afar and Tigray-Amhara border areas.

The National Emergency imposed at the start of November 2021 was for 6 months. But today the Ethiopian Council of Ministers agreed to lift the National Emergency before its expiry.

The Federal Cabinet has approved the lifting of the National Emergency and the decision has been submitted to the Ethiopian House of Representatives. The HOR is expected to ratify the decision of the Federal Cabinet.