Tigray is a regional state in northern Ethiopia with a tense, often violent history tied to the post-1991 Ethiopian state and to the TPLF.
The Prosperity Party has secured a decisive majority in the House of Peoples' Representatives, with 438 of 501 seats reported by the electoral board. Voting did not occur in Tigray, Amhara, and Oromia due to security concerns, while turnout was high in areas where voting occurred. The government frames the result as a mandate for stability and continued reforms, but opposition voices warn of fear and intimidation amid ongoing tensions and regional disputes.
Kenya's High Court has dismissed a bid by Rastafarians to legalise cannabis for religious purposes, stating the law does not violate freedom of religion. The ruling urges a broader national discussion on cannabis policy, acknowledging widespread use while underscoring the colonial-era roots of drug laws.