The Right to Political Participation of Internally Displaced Persons in Ethiopia: The Rights to Vote and Be Elected
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Date
2025-01-02
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) face significant challenges in exercising their
political rights, particularly the right to vote and be elected. Ethiopia, a country
experiencing recurrent internal displacement due to conflict, environmental factors, and
social tensions, presents a critical case study on the electoral participation of IDPs. This
research examines the legal, administrative, and socio-political barriers that prevent
Ethiopian IDPs from fully engaging in the political process. Despite constitutional
guarantees and Ethiopia’s commitment to international and regional human rights
instruments, including the Kampala Convention, IDPs continue to encounter restrictive
residency requirements, documentation challenges, and institutional exclusion. The study
analyzes Ethiopia’s legal framework, focusing on the 2019 Electoral Proclamation and
the 2021 Directive on Special Polling Stations, highlighting gaps in implementation. By
ensuring the electoral rights of IDPs, Ethiopia can strengthen its democratic institutions,
promote social cohesion, and uphold the fundamental principle of universal suffrage