Addis Ababa, June 3, 2026 (FMC) — The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Election Observation Mission has commended Ethiopia’s 7th General Election as a largely peaceful and well-administered national exercise, highlighting significant institutional reforms, broad civic participation, and improvements in electoral systems, while outlining areas for continued strengthening.
Presenting its preliminary assessment in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, the mission said the June 1 election was conducted in a complex political and security context but was characterized by orderly voting, high voter engagement, and notable advancements in electoral administration.
The mission, led by former Vice President of Uganda Specioza Wandira Kazibwe, said observers were deployed across seven regions and city administrations, where they engaged with election management bodies, political parties, civil society organizations, women and youth groups, and domestic and international observer missions throughout the electoral process.
IGAD stated that its observation was conducted in line with Ethiopia’s constitutional and legal framework, as well as regional and international standards, including the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and internationally recognized principles of election observation.
A key feature of the assessment was the scale of Ethiopia’s electoral administration and participation. The mission noted that more than 54 million voters were registered nationwide, with participation supported by extensive institutional and logistical arrangements, including approximately 52,000 polling stations and widespread deployment of election officials.
The mission commended the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) for its operational capacity, noting the recruitment, training, and deployment of over 195,000 election officials, as well as efforts to expand voter education, stakeholder engagement, and political party support mechanisms ahead of the election.
IGAD also highlighted a series of institutional and technological innovations introduced in this election cycle, including digital voter registration systems, GIS-based polling station mapping, hybrid voter registration processes, and special voting arrangements for internally displaced persons and members of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces.
The introduction of the locally developed “Merichai” digital voter registration system, enabling millions of citizens to register through digital platforms, was cited as a notable step toward modernization and accessibility in electoral management.
On election day, observers reported generally smooth operations, with timely opening of polling stations, adequate availability of election materials, and professional conduct of polling officials. Voting environments were described as peaceful, with priority access provided to elderly voters, women, and persons with disabilities.
The mission also observed strong voter turnout across many areas, with long queues forming early in the morning and continuing into extended voting hours in some locations, including Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa, reflecting active civic engagement.
IGAD further commended the participation of political party agents, domestic observers, civil society organizations, and human rights institutions, including the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, in supporting transparency and accountability throughout the electoral process.
While underscoring these positive developments, the mission noted that elections were not held in certain constituencies in Amhara and Tigray regions due to security constraints, and highlighted the need for continued efforts to strengthen women’s representation in electoral processes, including candidacy and leadership roles.
IGAD also identified areas requiring further attention, including strengthening dispute resolution mechanisms, expanding voter education in underserved areas, enhancing cybersecurity and digital protection systems, and improving efficiency in polling station management.
In its recommendations, the mission called for continued modernization of electoral systems, enhanced training for election officials, expanded civic and voter education programs, and deeper engagement by political parties in peaceful, issue-based political competition. It also emphasized the importance of promoting inclusive participation of women and youth in electoral leadership and candidacy.
The mission urged security institutions to maintain neutrality and professionalism, civil society organizations to strengthen coordination and domestic observation capacity, and all stakeholders to reinforce collaborative frameworks that support credible and peaceful electoral processes.
In its concluding remarks, IGAD described Ethiopia’s 7th General Election as a “notable milestone” in the country’s democratic and electoral development, citing institutional innovation, technological advancement, and broad-based public participation as key achievements.
IGAD reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ethiopia’s democratic consolidation, credible elections, and governance reforms, and emphasized continued engagement with national stakeholders in the post-election period.