ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (SONNA) — Continental and regional observation teams have reported an orderly and optimistic commencement to the voting process across Ethiopia as the nation conducts its seventh General Election. The African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM), led by former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, along with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Election Observation Mission, led by Speciosa Wandira-Kazibwe, are actively monitoring voting operations to assess the preparedness of election officials and the overall conduct of the ballot.
The African Union delegation monitored early opening procedures at designated polling stations to gauge compliance with established electoral frameworks. Speaking during the initial field assessment, President Kenyatta expressed satisfaction with the baseline flow of the process, noting that voting operations had started smoothly. He indicated that the monitoring teams would continue to observe field developments throughout the day to track voter throughput and administrative efficiency before returning to compile final daily metrics.
President Kenyatta emphasized that elections play a critical role in strengthening democratic governance and institutional inclusion across Africa. He stated that the act of casting a ballot allows citizens to directly exercise their democratic rights to choose their representatives and leadership. While acknowledging that large-scale democratic processes can encounter logistical or operational hurdles, he noted that each electoral cycle presents a valuable opportunity for administrative refinement and long-term institutional consolidation. Furthermore, he highlighted Ethiopia’s position as the diplomatic capital of the continent, noting that a successful and stable outcome here holds immense weight that extends well beyond its borders.
Concurrently, the IGAD Election Observation Mission conducted its own field assessments of the morning opening protocols. The head of the IGAD mission, Speciosa Wandira-Kazibwe, emphasized the continental importance of maintaining absolute peace during the process, linking Ethiopia’s internal stability directly to the comfort and safety of movement across the wider region. The IGAD leadership specifically welcomed the high turnout and active participation of women voters early in the day, describing it as an encouraging metric for inclusive civic engagement. Both international missions confirmed that the morning hours maintained a peaceful atmosphere, and they will continue tracking the voting, counting, and tabulation frameworks before delivering their preliminary international assessments.
Source: ENA
