Ethiopia to vote, but polling stations in Tigray bloodied by war remain closed

Today’s vote in Ethiopia takes place against the backdrop of a bloody war in the northern Tigray region, where the colleges will remain closed. It will also be the first electoral test for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, 44, who promised to embody the democratic renewal of the country upon his coming to power in 2018. The polling stations were opened this morning at 7 to allow the approximately 37 million registered citizens to express their preferences in the long-postponed parliamentary elections.