Addis Ababa, May 31, 2026 (FMC) — The African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) has deployed Short-Term Observers across Ethiopia ahead of the 1 June 2026 general election, as part of efforts to monitor and assess the conduct of the nationwide vote.
The observers have been deployed to various parts of the country and have begun engagements with local authorities in their respective areas of assignment, including officials from the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) and security institutions.
The mission is led by former President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta and deputised by former Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama.
According to the African Union, the Short-Term Observers (STOs) are drawn from 37 African countries and include representatives from election management bodies, civil society organisations, and experts in elections, human rights, gender, media, and youth affairs.
The AU stated that women account for 61 percent of the observation team, reflecting efforts to ensure inclusive representation within election observation processes.
The observers are expected to monitor key stages of the electoral process on election day, including the opening of polling stations, voting, closing procedures, and vote counting.
The deployment forms part of the African Union’s broader mandate to support credible, transparent, and inclusive elections across member states through African-led observation mechanisms.
The 7th general election is scheduled for 1 June 2026, with millions of registered voters expected to participate nationwide.