Addis Ababa, May 31, 2026 (FMC) — The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Election Observation Mission has continued its field assessment activities ahead of Ethiopia’s seventh general election, with observers visiting Jimma City in the Oromia Region to evaluate preparations for tomorrow’s nationwide vote.
The visit comes as Ethiopia completes final preparations for the June 1 election, in which more than 54 million registered voters are expected to cast ballots across the country.
During their mission to Jimma, the observers reviewed pre-election arrangements and engaged with local electoral officials to assess the readiness of polling structures and the overall preparedness of the constituency ahead of election day.
Head of the Jimma City Constituency Nebiyat Abraham said preparations for the vote have been progressing smoothly, indicating that the necessary arrangements have been finalized for the conduct of the election.
The field assessment forms part of IGAD’s broader election observation efforts across Ethiopia. Together with the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM), the regional bloc is participating in Africa-led and Africa-owned election observation initiatives aimed at supporting credible, peaceful, and transparent electoral processes on the continent.
The African Union has deployed 73 short-term observers from 37 African countries to monitor Ethiopia’s election, while IGAD observers have also been conducting engagements in various parts of the country in the lead-up to the vote.
Ethiopia’s seventh general election is one of the largest electoral exercises in the nation’s history. The election is expected to see millions of voters head to polling stations across the country, marking another significant milestone in the country’s democratic process.
As the nation enters the final hours before voting begins, election observation missions, electoral officials, and stakeholders continue efforts to help ensure a peaceful, orderly, and credible electoral process.