Ethiopia’s parliament on Tuesday approved an early end to a six-month state of emergency, which was imposed in early November as Tigray forces fighting the Ethiopian government and their allies advanced towards the capital Addis Ababa.
The move follows a proposal by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Cabinet last month to end the emergency period, as the Tigrayan forces have since withdrawn to their stronghold in the country’s north.
Parliament speaker Tagesse Chafo said officials can now use regular law to deal with the country’s security threats.
Tesfaye Beljige, chief government whip, said the the emergency measures were restricting tourism and economic activities. It was “causing more damage” than benefits, he added.
Thousands of mainly ethnic Tigrayans were detained under the state of emergency, but many were released after December’s downturn in fighting. It wasn’t clear if the government would release the rest of the detainees.
Fighting broke out in Tigray in November 2020 after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops to topple the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, the region’s former ruling party.
