1956 Eritrean parliamentary election

Assembly elections were held in Eritrea on 5 and 6 September 1956.[1] All candidates ran as independents.[2]

1956 Eritrean parliamentary election
Eritrea
← 1952 5–6 September 1956 1960 →
Party Leader Seats
Unionist Party Tedla Ogbit 32
Others 36
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

Background

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Elections had previously been held in 1952 during the British administration. Following the elections, article 45 of the new Eritrean constitution required that the Legislative Assembly pass a new electoral law to replace the 1951 proclamation and establish an Electoral High Commission prior to the next elections.[1] In 1953 the Assembly rejected a draft law, and the government obtained confirmation from the Attorney General that the 1951 proclamation would still be applicable.[3]

However, this had not been done, and in the months leading up to the 1956 elections the Muslim League asked the Supreme Court to declare them unconstitutional.[3]

Conduct

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The Eritrean police force began harassing opponents of the Unionist Party government in September 1955 under the leadership of pro-Unionist Tedla Ogbit.[3] The federal authorities also intervened to "frighten off any possible opposition", and one anti-Unionist candidate, Muhammed Omar Akito, had a bomb thrown into his living room.[4]

However, the Supreme Court made some interventions on behalf of the opposition, demanding opposition candidate Fessha Woldermariam be released from police detainment after he was arrested a week before nominations closed.[3] It also confirmed the victory of opposition candidate Muhammed Omar Akito, which the Assembly had declared invalid.[4]

Results

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A total of 188 candidates contested the 68 seats, with 32 Unionists elected.[4]

Elected members

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Division Elected member Affiliation
AkeleGuzai Division Ato Ghebrekidan Tesemma Anti-Unionist
Bashai Habte Tesfamikael Unionist Party
Dejach Berhe Asmerom Anti-Unionist
Ato Tewelde Tedla Unionist Party
Fit. Negash Bariaeghzi Unionist Party
Dej. Ghebrezghi Guangul Anti-Unionist
Fit. Saleh Omar Anti-Unionist
Sayid Ahmed Saleh Barole Anti-Unionist
Sayid Sunabara Damana Anti-Unionist
Graz. Abdella Omar Anti-Unionist
Lij. Alemseged Belai Unionist Party
Azmatch Reda Guangul Unionist Party
Asmara Division Demsas Woldemikael Unionist Party
Ibrahim Ali Bekit Anti-Unionist
Solomon Hailemelokot Unionist Party
Berhanu Ahmeddin Anti-Unionist
Habtesghi Ogbasghi Unionist Party
Fessaha Woldemariam Anti-Unionist
Keshi Meascio Bein Unionist Party
Assab Division Rashid Sirru
Hamasen Division Bashai Tekeste Seleba
Bashai Ghebrehiwet Tesfai Unionist Party
Azmatch Hagos Sereke Unionist Party
Ato Berhe Ghebrehiwet Unionist Party
Ato Belai Ghebremariam Unionist Party
Graz. Ghebremariam T Unionist Party
Keren Division Sayid Hussein Kafeel Anti-Unionist
Sayid Ismael Daud
Sayid Sefaf Hiyabu Unionist Party
Cavalier Abbe Mohammed
Ato Abreha Wonderas Unionist Party
Sheik Hamid Sayid Hamid
Sayid Yusuf Faki Ali Anti-Unionist
Sayid Mohammed Ale Abdella
Sayid Omar Sheikh Mohammed Amir Anti-Unionist
Sayid Mohammed Sayid M. Hasseno Anti-Unionist
Haj Mohammed Mussa Mender Anti-Unionist
Sayid Abdu Sheikh Ali Anti-Unionist
Sayid Osman Mohammed Anti-Unionist
Sayid Osman Abdurrahman Sheferai
Sayid Omar Adem Idris Anti-Unionist
Sayid Al Hassan Mohammed Akola
Sayid Hamid Ferej Hamid
Sayid Adem Suleiman Dighe
Sayid Mohammed Badumme Kassu Anti-Unionist
Sayid Faid Tinga Longhi Anti-Unionist
Sayid Mohammed Arey Agaba
Massawa Division Hajj Osman Mohammed Hindi Anti-Unionist
Ato Misgun Bokru Unionist Party
Massawa Sub-Division Sayid Mohammed Ali Sheikh el Amin
Sheikh Kekkia Pasha Unionist Party
Sayid Mohammed Ali Maliki
Serae Division Bashai Berhane Tecle Unionist Party
Azmatch Fasil Habtu Unionist Party
Kegnaz Yihdego Ghebrerufael Unionist Party
Keshi Woldeyohannes Tzadu Unionist Party
Ato Tesfai Zemikael
Keshi Dimetros Ghebremariam Unionist Party
Ato Nega Naizghi Unionist Party
Ato Ogbe Haile Unionist Party
Azmatch Woldemikael Beraki Unionist Party
Graz. Asmerom Woldeghiorghis Unionist Party
Ato Ghebremikael Derzo Unionist Party
Graz. Tesfamikael Werke Unionist Party
Source: Report On Elections For The Second Assembly Of Eritrea

Aftermath

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The self-dissolution of the Assembly in 1962 was the pretext for annexation of Eritrea by Imperial Ethiopia.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Tekeste Negash (1997) Eritrea and Ethiopia: The Federal Experience, Nordic Africa Institute, p115
  2. ^ a b Dolf Sternberger, Bernhard Vogel, Dieter Nohlen & Klaus Landfried (1978) Die Wahl der Parlamente: Band II: Afrika, Erster Halbband, p332 (in German)
  3. ^ a b c d Negash, p116
  4. ^ a b c Negash, p117