Yohannes Tessema, a member of the Boro Democratic Party, was arrested by regional security for opposing legislative changes increasing regional council seats. The BDP claims the changes are unconstitutional and disregard necessary demographic evaluations. The ruling Prosperity Party has not yet addressed his arrest amid rising tensions.
Yohannes Tessema, an executive member of the Boro Democratic Party (BDP) and a parliament member from the Benishangul Gumuz region, has been detained by regional security forces amid rising opposition to recent controversial legislative alterations. These changes have heightened political tensions in the region, igniting disputes concerning council representation and constitutionality.
Haile Embiyale, a central committee member of the BDP, stated that Yohannes was arrested on March 9 while heading to Addis Ababa to raise concerns at the House of Federation regarding legislative changes that escalated regional council seats from 99 to 165. Currently, Yohannes is detained at the district two police station in Assosa town, with no court appearance reported to date.
The BDP identifies the changes as unconstitutional, asserting that they disregard necessary population assessments as outlined in Ethiopia’s Constitution, specifically Article 54 (3). The legislation (202/2017) reportedly passed by majority vote also pertains to the establishment of new electoral districts while removing existing ones without proper evaluation.
The ruling Prosperity Party, claiming over 15 million members, oversees both federal and regional parliaments but has not responded to Yohannes’ arrest or the BDP’s claims. The regional administration accuses the opposition party of seeking to destabilize the region amid ongoing humanitarian crises, notably the violent impact on ethnic Amharas.
Yohannes Tessema, a prominent figure in the Boro Democratic Party, has been arrested during a politically charged environment following legislative changes that expanded the regional council’s seats. The BDP has raised concerns regarding the constitutionality of these changes, claiming they violate population representation principles. The broader political implications reflect ongoing tensions between the ruling Prosperity Party and opposition sentiments as regional security issues persist.
Original Source: borkena.com
