Addis Ababa|Forum of Horn Vision "HAPC"

Saturday|May30,2026

At the official invitation of the Ethiopian government and the National Electoral Board, a mission from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development ( IGAD ) arrived in Ethiopia to monitor the country’s seventh general election.

High-Level Leadership and a Multinational Team:

The mission is led by high-level diplomatic leadership; Ambassador Dr. Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe , former Vice President of Uganda, heads the mission, while Ambassador Mohamed Ali Hamid, former President of the National Assembly of Djibouti, serves as Deputy Head of Mission.

The mission comprises 26 short-term observers representing six African countries: Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. These observers represent various entities, including election management bodies, civil society organizations, and youth and women’s groups.

Deployment Plan and Evaluation Mechanism:

According to an official statement issued by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development ( IGAD ), the monitoring team will be deployed in several Ethiopian regions, with a focus on the cities of Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa. The monitoring will cover all stages of the electoral process, from the opening of polling stations, through voting and the closing of polling stations, to the counting of votes.

The mission will rely on several legal and international references, particularly the legal framework governing elections within Ethiopia, the IGAD draft protocol on democracy , governance and elections, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance , and the International Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation.

Intensive Meetings and Anticipated Reports:

key stakeholders in the Ethiopian political landscape, including the National Electoral Board, the Human Rights Commission, the Federal Police, and political parties. Meetings will also include civil society organizations, media outlets, women’s and youth groups, and other local and international observer missions.

The mission is scheduled to hold a press conference in the capital Addis Ababa on June 3, 2026 to issue its preliminary statement and assessment of the conduct of the elections. The mission’s final and comprehensive report will be published as soon as the Ethiopian National Electoral Board announces the final official results.