African Union Mission of 73 Observers from 37 Countries Arrives in Ethiopia as Continent Deepens Engagement in 7th General Election Process

Addis Ababa, May 29, 2026 (FMC) — The African Union has begun deploying its Election Observation Mission to Ethiopia ahead of the 7th General Election, adding continental presence to a vote widely viewed as one of Africa’s most significant democratic exercises this year.

The mission’s arrival follows an official invitation from the Government of Ethiopia and the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), as final preparations continue for the nationwide polls scheduled for June 1.

The delegation is led by former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and brings together 73 observers drawn from 37 African countries.

Rather than a narrow technical team, the mission reflects a broad continental composition, bringing in voices from electoral institutions, governance and legal fields, civil society networks, media practice, and specialized groups focused on gender inclusion and youth participation.

Women make up a majority of the mission, accounting for 61 percent of the deployed observers — a feature the AU highlights as part of its evolving approach to inclusive electoral engagement.

Field deployment will cover multiple parts of the country, including regional states and the Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa city administrations, where observers will follow electoral activity across polling stations, counting centers, and tabulation processes.

In parallel with field observation, the mission will engage in structured consultations with Ethiopian electoral authorities, political stakeholders, civic institutions, media actors, diplomatic representatives, and other observation groups present in the country.

The African Union said its work will be guided by Ethiopia’s constitutional and legal framework for elections, alongside continental commitments under the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and other relevant standards.

An initial statement outlining preliminary findings is expected shortly after the election, followed by a more comprehensive report in the post-election period.

Ethiopia heads into the vote with more than 50 million registered voters, underscoring the scale of the exercise and its significance within the continent’s broader democratic calendar.

The presence of the AU mission adds a further layer of continental visibility to the process, as Ethiopia hosts multiple regional and international observation teams during the election period.