Ethiopia postpones election over coronavirus

Ethiopia's electoral board has postponed August’s highly anticipated general election because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Much of its planning had been hit by the disruption caused by coronavirus, such as obtaining election materials on time and training staff, it said.

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has announced strict measures to last just over two weeks to stop the spread of coronavirus including a ban on private vehicle use, meaning anyone needing emergency medical care will need to ask a high-level district official for permission to leave their home.

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has announced a lockdown in Lagos - the commercial hub of Nigeria, as well as the neighbouring state of Ogun and the capital Abuja on Monday night, following an announcement that the fight against the virus was a "matter of life and death".

(Image: Birtukan Mideska is the head of the election board who was in exile in the US for seven years. Credit: Getty)