Addis Ababa, February 2, 2026 (FMC) — The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has stressed that the coordinated and responsible participation of all stakeholders is essential to ensure a free, fair, and democratic seventh national election.
The statement was made during a stakeholders’ consultation forum held in Addis Ababa, which brought together regional administrators, city mayors, political party leaders, security officials, and representatives from civil society organizations.
Addressing the forum, NEBE Chairperson Melatwork Hailu said preparations for the upcoming national election are progressing steadily. “Our goal is to conduct the seventh national election in a free, fair, and impartial manner, and key preparatory activities are already underway,” she said.
Melatwork highlighted that civil society organizations have been granted authorization to provide voter education and awareness training, with programs already in motion to enhance citizen understanding of the electoral process.
She also noted that NEBE is actively supporting political parties to strengthen their participation in the elections. The consultation forum provides a platform to assess progress across regions and identify areas requiring additional focus.
Emphasizing security as a critical component, the Chairperson underlined the importance of consultations to understand the situation in each region, ensuring that the election is conducted peacefully, fairly, and impartially.
The seventh national election is scheduled for June 1, 2026. In preparation, NEBE has recently launched new digital platforms designed to modernize voter and candidate registration, aiming to enhance efficiency and transparency in the electoral process.