them it will be over any time soon. not even for beckett as fully vaccinated population. she says she'd rather wait to see what happens to the rest of brazil and the world and dance alone in her paradise island. monica now, i'll just 0 bucket. ah, this is answers here were these are the top stories. polls are closing and the parliamentary election prime minister abbey and its 1st electoral test. the votes been postponed in 3 regions, including 2 grey where the government is fighting rebels. i'm going to do is move from us out of a they walk long keels in the capitol at the top about a couple other cities across the country. people had started gathering some of this pulling sessions as early as 4 in the morning. these are very cool for elections to

be and they see us the 1st step towards the monetizing country and they want the entire world to see it. just not a walk in progress runs, president elect to him, right. he see is held his 1st news conference since friday vote there. he rolled out meeting us president joe biden and urged signatories to the 2050 nuclear deal to return to the agreement. that how did you don't mind how, how can i rent or action with all countries will be balance any negotiation that is going to be the benefit of our nation will be supported, but negotiation should have an achievement for the great nation of iran and its people who call johan care? our stance is that all signatory should return to the 2015 agreement and abide by their commitments. we are asking the europeans not to be pressured or influenced by the americans. our people want their rights to be revived. amine is prime ministers one sunday snap parliamentary election,

nicole passions party got nearly 54 percent of the vote. his men rival, the former president robert contrarian, just 21 percent. libya has postponed the reopening of a road linking the east and west of the country. the national unity government announced it was open on sunday as part of a sci fi deal, but forces loyalty was calling for. have to objected saying they were consulted and held in a committee said, the road is not yet safe. to reopen, choose a land mine and sweetens prime minister stefan love than has lost a confidence vote in parliament. the social democrats lead and now has a week to either resign or call to snap election. the vote was triggered off to get the governing coalition fell apart in a dispute over proposed rent. okay, we quit the news hour in about 25 minutes time. next to the latest inside story with mohammed jumped. news,

news, news, news. news. the 1st mobile party election in ethiopia in more than 16 years, prime minister, is facing the electorate for the 1st time since taking office. but will democracy work even as some regions are left out of the vote? this is inside story. ah, ah hello and welcome to the program. i'm hamilton john prime minister, aba had rose to power in 2018, promising a break with if you will be. as authoritarian passed and the nation's 1st multi

party election in 16 years was held on monday after being delayed twice because of the pandemic. the vote is based 1st test at the ballot since his appointment is governing prosperity party has fielded the most candidates raising his chances of remaining on the job. but some opposition groups have boycotted, the vote in protest against the jailing of their leaders and some regions are not taking part for logistical or security reasons. those who missed mondays vote will get another chance in september of a i met has been under pressure for the conflict in the northern region of too great weather you and has warned thousands are facing famine like conditions. so i'm a survive is 1st test at the ballot box. we'll put that to our guess. first, this report from having to go in, at least about the long queue outside. almost every pulling session is that couple of people have this rooming pulling. so some hours before, for things begun, they're costing 3 volume one for a member of the local assembly. another for the house of representatives,

which is the main parliament on the sad one full members of the house for the rest of which is the upper house of like coming to parliament. now these elections have been a dog with the logistical issues in the past. it is the military that does help the electoral commission, so for falling materials for different parts of the can fit with the military now fully engaged in the integral. the electoral commission did not have that support available, which is one of the reasons why it was delayed. they needed more time to prepare for the electric was the 2nd time the electrical perform. last, yes, the election of football because of the corporate 1900 pandemic. now they also legitimacy issue surrounding the election. will you have the desired effect of a democratic? yup. there was a judy still out on boss because there are

a number of issues. one of them being position part is not filled in candidates in some parts of the country, where they said not only what their support of intimate they said imprisoned, but also some of them killed. these also the issue of the region on the mcveigh about discussing a very long shot of when he came for paula prime minister himself was a democrat and a leader who was going to show in a new era of democracy in ethiopia. now, with the 1st lessons organized, having all these issues, including of the missions, like both from the european union concerning the last minutes. many people feel that the legitimacy issue will linger even in the post election period. $45.00 to $40.00. this is mohammed. i do also it a couple buddies up here. so let's have a look at what's at stake in this election. the northern region of

t guy remains in a state of conflict. 8 months after a prime minister had ordered a military offensive there. the un and humanitarian agencies say at least 350000 people face famine in the region. thousands have been killed and displaced and the african union is investigating allegations of rights abuses. the u. s. has imposed some sanctions on if you're being leaders in response to the t re crisis. ethnic divisions have been growing particularly between if your p s 2 largest ethnic groups, the horror and oracle. and if you'll be in a dispute with sudan in egypt for its hydro electric dam on the blue nile. ah, all right, let's bring our guests in addis ababa. samuel get at you is a journalist and writer in fort myers william davidson is senior. if you'll be analyst at the international crisis group in the hague of it is program officer at international institute for democracy and electoral assistance, a warm welcome to you all samuel, let me start with you today. how have people and if you'll be viewed this election,

i mean, do they actually see this as the beginning of a real transition to democracy? you know, i woke up just to be got the poles and the line up. i've seen, you know, it was supposed to start by pulling station where i reside, and i come both because i don't need your can ship, but the park lane up was long. people are excited. it's no going to be the most part of the election has never known an election that's perfect. but the people wanted to express that idea. they wanted to highlight the issues that they care about. but i saw some kind of excitement among the money and the people that i met today and throughout the day. and i'm let me get your viewpoint. you wrote a piece recently in which you said that many saw elections as harbingers of the success of the much touted transition. what about now? do you feel the same?

yes, i think a lot for a lot of people, there's still a lot of hope that the elections will show in a better dispensation political dispensation. at the same time, they are not, as they were hoped to be. primarily for 2 reasons. one is the unfolding conflict and tragedy in take rights and take away, richard will not be participating in the elections. and secondly, is the fact that in romeo, the key opposition parties are not participating. and what that means is that the electoral outcomes in romeo will not be a genuine reflection of the political divide in the region. about the same time, i think, overall in the country, there is a sense that as a subway described, there is just a sense of euphoria that these are important elections and that they will show in new respects and better political disposition in the country. william just how big of a test is this for? i'll be off met him. he's never really faced the electorate before. so just,

you know, how much pressure is on him right now because these elections and for the reasons stated by, by adam, there is not that much pressure on the prime minister hit the region is most populous region is, are mia. it has the most federal constituency is something like a 178th of $547.00. i believe that was where the prime minister was expected to face his major electoral test and indeed, his home region. now, the major opposition parties, as adam said, a boy called the election. therefore, it seemed almost that the prime minister's prosperity party were when by default in or near the out standing question. it will be interesting to see what share of the boats and of the seats, the prosperity party winds in order to try and gauge its popularity. it will be very interesting to see the outcome of the election results in the sum of whether a number of opposition parties who were still challenging the ruling party. but

overrule this election as an actual real test of the prime minister and his agenda and his new ruling party. that is not as it should be because of that lack of competition in those key areas where he faces the most opposition. and the biggest political challenge, samuel, i want to pick up on a point that adam was making, he mentioned the conflict that's going on in t great. how much of a shadow is that war that's going on? and t gray casting on the election? she be honest, i'm not trying to discount what's happening. that's a great region. what's happening is really when you start but the talk to just in the 2 great region, it's all across the country. there are many parts of the country that i can't even access. we can't even access only because of security issues. what's the, are meant that they cannot even provide me 6 security for if you open source citizens. so i mean to graze overshadowing many,

many people that are being impacted. what we have seen from our far we can't even cause them allegations anymore. busy they have me and fox, they have been some that has been endorsed by even the government, the human rights commission, the u. n. so what's happening in the gray region is something that needs our attention will just be government. i think it needs every, once i finish up what locks i won't get the organs is a real conversation about citizenship. there is this idea of embracing an ethnic log our ethnic backgrounds. i think this election because any legacy it needs to move forward. i know the lecture, there are some questions about how the selection will be that we need to move forward because we don't want to see your break up and become like we've seen in other countries including our neighboring somalia and south sedan. adam elections

are not being held in around one 5th of the countries. $547.00 constituencies that includes all $38.00 seats and t gray and $64.00 others across the country. what are the reasons that elections either won't be held there or will be delayed? it's a combination of one in security, especially integrated but also in parts of west and romeo and it's more parts of the region. but in other places it's principally logistics and allegations of electron mishaps, particularly. and so malia region which is the 3rd, which is the 4th largest region in europe. yeah. so it's a combination of insecurity of logistical challenge and off and off elect electron mishaps. but it's important to note that accept 4 to grade elections in other parts in the, in the remaining parts are planned for september. and if everything goes well,

that was to be before the next parliament is supposed to start so that the lady is unfortunate into the areas. but it does not necessarily undermine the legitimacy of the elections. but what you said earlier, and what someone tried to cover is the fact that take her, i would be out of the elections and we don't know for how long and, and has to be a way to ensure that their interest of the client would be represented at the national level, so there has to be in the communism for that to happen until the elections are, are able to be william. why was the decision made to go ahead with elections when there are so many areas of the country where you know poles have been delayed for various reasons is this, is this more about the fact that it would look like a failure after the elections having been delayed prior to to this, to this day, or is it more about the fact that it's an attempt for the prime minister in his party to consolidate power or is it a combination of both?

yes, combination of a number of things. i think that the ruling was that they would run elections 9 to 12 months after the time, then it was considered to be under control. so there is a window to hold elections. the opposition on the elements have been excluded from this election, including an or the my liberation army which has grown and popularity. incapability, as it seems, since the, the formal opposition party is boycotted the election. now they are essentially trying to disrupt this process, which they say is illegitimate and conduct conducted by illegitimate authorities. so it's a cancel the election in the face of that sort of threat would be a submission to that sort of opposition activity. so it really does make sense to go ahead from the election from the, from the federal authorities perspective. of course, the prime minister is ruling party. they see a chance to win a mandate form of a formal democratic mandate,

even if it lacks some popular legitimacy. and push ahead with that agenda. so i think those are the, the core reasons for pushing heads of the vote. i just wanted to return to something that samuel said, he's talking about the need for sort of healing ethnic divides. and when we talk about these excluded opposition entities, and when we talk about the opposition acted either the orbital liberation army or the armed resistance and great they are promoting an s no nationalist agenda. and this election without apportioning blame that this election is excluding those elements. so rather than this election, bringing any sort of healing any sort of answers to these divisions. anything in society, instead, it could quite possibly exacerbate them because the parties that are participating in the election generally are the opponents of the, those more nationally forces. and so that is the overarching concern that crisis group and many others have about the political situation. in samuel,

let me ask you about what william was just mentioning. i mean, are you concerned that there is a reason to worry that these elections will further de stabilize ethiopia? her there might as well be, but the reality is the selection was delayed. so many times, twice a lease. this is going to be a partial election. unless you feel moves beyond this election, i mean, we have to move on and, and because there are so many needs across the country, again, many, many across the country. that's the time when we become. 2 a citizen forced to reside in among our ethnic groups. i highlight what william said, i know. busy there are issues with the selection. it's not the most perfect selection. the position has to be saying last year. they should, the prime minister should have conducted on election time position groups. now

they're asking for it to be delayed. once again. there are money that are not participating for many, many reasons. but the reality is, i think it really wants to q. it seems they need, their basic needs to be met. and if this election would somehow put results, i guess many people are saying, let me add them. you know, there are many analysts who have said that if tensions and conflicts around the country, you know, if it's already, if that's already caused a roll back of be awesome as reforms that those rollbacks would continue. what would you say to that? there's always that chance, my sense is that once the elections are over and as we expect the party secure victory, they might feel more secure. more so suppose the electron calculations may change.

that means that they might be ready to make concessions integration and also with the auto position. and perhaps even with the international challenge for us in the good and others that the countries facing or with elections holder and around. it's very difficult for the government to make concessions, particularly on some of the popular measures, including the conflict in integration and the, the, the conflict also in, in parts of the room is i think there is a chance that the electoral outcomes may provide the government with some security with some confidence and also relieve it of the electoral calculations to engage in less popular but significant processes including the issues that, that william rich, as you said, you know, the parties are out of this process are unfortunately it's not as forces. and unfortunately, also the elections are not supposed and they're not meant to sold some of the conversations between, you know,

on these issues. so that is hope that after the elections and it's certainly my hope after the elections, the government, which is more secure, to engage with these forces, which would require dialogue because elation and overall, mutual legitimacy between the parties and the opposition. william, you know, we've seen outside actors continue to try to push our might into some type of conciliatory position to try to start a dialogue to try to deescalate tensions in the country. and we've seen continue to dig in his heels and really sort of rebuff. those overtures, let me ask you to expand on what adam was saying, do you think that there is reason to be optimistic right now that if the election goes the way that many people think it will. and if i be, i'm, it continues to be prime minister if a jo locks his hold on power there. will there be a level of comfort to be able to be more conciliatory? i mean,

are there any chances that there could be efforts made after this election to stop the conflict, anti grey, and also deal with other crises throughout the country? sadly, i don't think there's grounds to be optimistic, but i would not. that does not mean i am dismissing the views or the suggestion along the lines of either that it's, it's sensible it's, it's worthwhile to wait and see what the god reaction is. what the prime minister's reaction is in the event of secure and comfortable majority. here is the going to be some recognition that the war integrate is essentially on winnable. and it is just going to need to continue human suffering with no prospect of a sustainable political settlement. that is going to be recognition without some form of political amnesty, some effort to reach out to opponents some efforts political reconciliation that a few years political problems are going to get worse and that means more violent.

i hope so, but i'm not particularly optimistic about that. and those concerns are based around a number of things. recently we have seen the t p l f, the ruling party into gray, classified as a terrorist organization. but the armed resistance integrate is fighting for the return of the t p left government. that is a very hard political problem to resolve and instead of reconciliation, it looks like we will see more complex that more generally, this is a process of the authorities and those that a loosely allied with them describing who are legitimate actors and who illegitimate political actors now when you have an election, it will enhance those divisions. those who participated in the election will be considered legitimate. those who are engaging any, any form armed opposition activity of course will be classed as illegitimate post election. there is the possibility for reconciliation and a change in direction, but unfortunately, i'm not optimistic about that. the current, samuel i'll be honored, standing outside of the fuel,

has been greatly diminished since the war in te great began. what about inside ethiopia? i think, you know, he's been prime minister for 3 years. he has a record, you know, when you have a record of your honeymoon when it's called honeymoon, you become a witch issue. there are those that do sub, for a blind. the sometimes do so for. busy the ongoing conflicts as a punishment to the people in the euro. and there are those that really despise what's happening across the country. conflict has taken over the country all across the country. issues of unemployment. you know how they're used to be a high interest of for an investment. some of them i blame, but they're just parking up and going back. so there are many, many issues and he has become the wage issue. but if i, if i may, and then we talk about, you know, today when i woke up by pipe and went to the old looking at long lines of people

that remind me of the hope, hopefully from africa, 9394. you know, i just pulled the fuel, you will have a democracy where people can have confidence in the system. that's why people like to return and i'm adapt program outside. so we can see the kind of hope in ethiopia . i'm going to be hopeful. i like william and i hope this election will produce results for something for it you'll get to forward when we can pump basic security in the country. that really diminishes our system to ship adam beyond these elections. how much of a challenge to issues like the border dispute with sudan and the escalating tensions over the grand? if you're up in renaissance dam pose for ahmed and for the government, while this is the piece, i think the contestation over the dumb was it preceded. abby, i met the border dispute was to don,

is quite new. i was always there lurking in the background, but it has escalated significantly. a particular use to war started my sense that at the moment any negotiation was always connected with electro calculations of the party. so even if they believe that concessions may be important, they would be hesitant because they do not want to disappoint their support. this is the garden particular. it's an extremely emotional issue in europe. yeah. the same with, with the border dispute in the country. and as i said, also the dispute in romeo and also in, in the question, you're not extending sensitive issues for any, any party. so my says, and, and certainly my hope is that the fact that the electron calculations would be over the elections would be over soon. could give them some breathing space to make, to make gestures important concessions and just gestures. so very, very sensitive,

very, very popular issues. and i hope that the, the relax ation of indication could, could be, could be, could, could harold a better future for the country. william, we only have about a minute 30 seconds left. and let me just ask you if prime minister ave is increasingly alienated from the international community, how much is that going to impact what goes on domestically? and if you, if you the big question is the international financing that the government is going to receive in the months and years to come, to carry out that agenda. whether that's economical or political reforms or just general government activity. the tide is turning so fast against government and because of the horrors of the war and great and the civilian suffering that there is considerable momentum building up in both the u. s. and also in europe, europe for continued action, unless the government changes cor centigrade and as i've described unfortunately at the moment though, i am hopeful, i cannot be sort of rationally optimistic about

a change in approach that because at the moment there are just no signs of it all right, we have run out of time, so we're going to have to leave the conversation. and thanks so much to all of our guests and we'll get you william davidson and the other day. and thank you to for watching. you can see the program again anytime by visiting our website 0 dot com. and for further discussion, go to our facebook page at facebook dot com forward slash ha inside story. you can also do the conversation on twitter handle is add a j inside story. for me, how much i'm drilling the whole team here for now. the news news

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around the shape, my technology and human ingenuity. we can make it work for you and your bill. ah me, this is al jazeera. ah, it is 1800 hours, gmc yellow, and come all santa maria. welcome to the news. our from al jersey is the end of along the election day in ethiopia, but overshadowed by conflict and famine in the northern region. and overall questions about the pose credibility, the median prime in the nico passion yon is celebrating a 2nd turn off.