International and Domestic Observers Continue Monitoring Ethiopia’s 7th General Election
Addis Ababa, June 1, 2026 (FMC) — International and domestic election observers deployed to monitor Ethiopia’s 7th General Election are closely following the voting process as polling continues across the country.
The East African Community (EAC) Election Observation Team is visiting polling stations in Addis Ababa as part of its observation mission.
The team also visited the Election Data Collection Center operated by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), known as “Together for Elections,” where election-related information is being compiled and analyzed.
Officials of the CSO coordination structure, including Director General Samson Berhanu, Deputy Director Fasikaw Molla, and President of the Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations Council (ECSOC) Ahmed Hussein, observed the center’s operations.
The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) stated that independent observers have been deployed to 39,723 polling stations and are actively monitoring the electoral process nationwide.
It also confirmed that representatives of political parties and independent candidates are present at 41,978 polling stations, observing voting procedures in line with electoral guidelines.
The Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations Federation has also begun receiving election-day observation reports from polling stations across the country.
On the international level, the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have deployed observation missions to Ethiopia for the general election.
The African Union Election Observation Mission, comprising 59 members and led by former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, has begun its deployment and field observation activities.
IGAD has also deployed a 26-member election observation team to monitor the conduct of the vote.
In addition to international observers, domestic observation is also underway at scale. Fifty-five locally organized civil society organizations have received accreditation and deployed 1,562 observers to various polling stations nationwide.