| Country: | Eritrea |
| Flag Year: | 1956 |
| Previous Election: | 1952 |
| Next Election: | 1960 |
| Election Date: | 5–6 September 1956 |
| Nopercentage: | yes |
| First Election: | yes |
| Seats1: | 32 |
| Party2: | Others |
| Seats2: | 36 |
Assembly elections were held in Eritrea on 5 and 6 September 1956.[1] All candidates ran as independents.[2]
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.
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]
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]
A total of 188 candidates contested the 68 seats, with 32 Unionists elected.[4]
| 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 | |||
The self-dissolution of the Assembly in 1962 was the pretext for annexation of Eritrea by Imperial Ethiopia.[2]