ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopia has intensified preparations for its 7th General Election, with local and international observer missions deployed across the country as authorities seek to ensure a peaceful, transparent and credible voting process.
The National Election Board of Ethiopia said election observers will play a central role in safeguarding the integrity of the polls, describing their participation as critical to promoting public confidence in the democratic exercise.
According to the Board, accredited observers from domestic civil society organizations, regional bodies and international institutions have been authorized to monitor voting activities throughout the election period. The Board emphasized that observer groups must remain impartial, non-profit and independent of political or government influence.
In a move aimed at strengthening transparency, 55 domestic civil society organizations have been accredited to observe the elections alongside a 59-member observer mission from the African Union and a 26-member mission from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.
The observers have been granted access to polling stations nationwide, allowing them to monitor voter registration procedures, voting operations and vote-counting processes. They are also permitted to engage election officials and submit reports on any irregularities identified during the exercise.
The Electoral Board noted that political parties and independent candidates have similarly been granted the right to deploy agents at constituency and polling-station levels to monitor proceedings.
Election authorities have called on all accredited observers to strictly adhere to established electoral laws and codes of conduct.
Observers are required to carry their accreditation cards at all times, comply with instructions issued by election officials and avoid any actions that could interfere with the voting process. They are also expected to submit detailed observation reports to the Electoral Board following the election.
The Board warned that observers found violating electoral regulations could face disciplinary action, including suspension or revocation of their accreditation, depending on the nature and severity of the offense.
Officials said the professionalism and neutrality of observers will be essential in ensuring that the election contributes to national stability, democratic governance and sustainable peace.
Ahead of the vote, the head of the IGAD Election Observation Mission, Specioza Wandira Kazibwe, held consultations in Addis Ababa with the leader of the African Union Election Observation Mission, Uhuru Kenyatta.
The two leaders discussed coordination between their respective observer teams and exchanged assessments of the pre-election environment.
They reaffirmed their commitment to supporting a peaceful, secure, transparent and inclusive electoral process in Ethiopia and emphasized the importance of collaboration among observation missions.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Board announced that 54,057,871 voters have registered for the 7th General Election, underscoring the scale of the democratic exercise.
The voter registration figure represents one of the largest electoral mobilizations in Ethiopia’s history and reflects growing public participation in the country’s political process.
With polling preparations entering their final stages, election authorities say all necessary measures have been put in place to facilitate a credible vote under the scrutiny of domestic and international observers.
The first round of election observation findings is expected to be released in Addis Ababa following the conclusion of voting.
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