IGAD Election Team Visits EHRC as Ethiopia Prepares for Monday Ballot

Addis Ababa, May 28, 2026 —Ahead of Ethiopia’s 7th General Election scheduled for June 1, 2026, the Head of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Election Observation Mission, Dr. Speciosa Wandira-Kazibwe, held high-level talks with Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Chief Commissioner, Berhanu Adelo to assess the country’s electoral environment and broader human rights situation.

The discussions focused on election monitoring efforts, measures to safeguard human rights during the electoral process, and mechanisms for handling electoral complaints and incidents.

 Both sides underscored the importance of transparency, accountability, and public trust as Ethiopia prepares for a closely watched national vote.

 

During the visit, the IGAD delegation toured the EHRC Situation Room, where officials demonstrated the commission’s election monitoring and rapid response systems.

The facility is designed to track incidents in real time and facilitate timely interventions aimed at strengthening electoral integrity and protecting citizens’ rights throughout the voting process.

The meeting forms part of IGAD’s broader engagement with Ethiopian institutions, civil society organizations, and electoral stakeholders ahead of the polls.

The regional bloc has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to supporting peaceful, credible, inclusive, and transparent elections across the Horn of Africa.

In a separate statement issued to the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), IGAD confirmed the deployment of its Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Ethiopia at the invitation of the Government of Ethiopia and the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE).

 

The mission is led by former Ugandan Vice President Dr. Speciosa Wandira-Kazibwe, with former President of the National Assembly of Djibouti Mohamed Ali Houmed serving as deputy head of mission.

The delegation comprises 26 short-term observers drawn from IGAD member states, including representatives from election management bodies, civil society organizations, and women’s and youth groups.

According to IGAD, observers will be deployed across multiple regional states, as well as Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa city administrations, where they will monitor key stages of the electoral process on polling day, including the opening of polling stations, voting procedures, ballot counting, and the closing of polls.

Ethiopia’s upcoming election is widely viewed as a significant test in the country’s evolving democratic journey, it was learned. 

 

Regional and international observers are expected to closely monitor the process, with particular attention on voter participation, institutional independence, and the overall conduct of the elections.

For many Ethiopians, the election represents not only a political milestone, but also an opportunity to strengthen democratic institutions and reinforce national stability.