Political Actors Describe 7th Pre-Election Process Free, Democratic and Peaceful

Addis Ababa, May 29, 2026 — Political actors have described Ethiopia’s 7th General Election process free, democratic and peaceful, citing an improved political environment that has enabled wider participation by political parties and citizens.

Chairperson of the Addis Ababa Political Parties Joint Council, Maru Jane, said the expanded political space has allowed parties and citizens to engage more actively in the electoral process.

“Efforts to widen the political space in the 7th General Election, compared to the 6th General Election, represent a significant step forward,” he said, noting the increased accessibility of voter registration cards.

Maru stressed that peace, democracy, and the country’s stability should prevail throughout the election period. He added that the council conducted awareness campaigns across Addis Ababa to encourage residents to obtain voter cards and participate in the election.

According to him, political parties also received training aimed at strengthening their participation in the electoral process. He said the council, in collaboration with the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), has supported public awareness programs on election laws and facilitated platforms for parties to present their political agendas.

Chairperson of the Amhara Region Political Parties Joint Council, Tesfahun Alemneh, said the government has created opportunities for competing political parties to share power, describing the move as an important step toward strengthening democratic governance.

He stated that parties have moved away from previously antagonistic relations and are now cooperating on common national issues while respecting political differences.

Tesfahun also said the allocation of airtime for competing parties has enabled them to present alternative policies and strategies, giving citizens broader political choices.

Secretary of the Oromia Region Political Parties Joint Council, Tariku Denberu, said challenges arising during the election process are being resolved swiftly and that bottlenecks previously viewed as threats are being addressed.

Tariku noted that the 7th General Election would serve as a milestone in strengthening democratic institutions and dismantling what he described as “backward political cultures.”

He added that political parties are working collaboratively, both within the Joint Council and independently, to ensure a democratic and peaceful electoral process.

Meanwhile, the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) praised the successful and historic election debate series held ahead of the mandatory “Period of Silence” preceding the election scheduled for Monday, June 1, 2026.

NEBE said the debates provided political parties with a platform to present their policies, programs, and visions while helping voters make informed decisions.

NEBE Chairperson Melatwork Hailu said the initiative strengthened voter awareness and democratic participation, emphasizing that the debates were inclusive and participatory.

She noted that it was the first national debate program organized directly by the Election Board.

According to NEBE, 33 political parties participated in debates covering 19 major national issues, moderated by independent experts.

Following the debates, NEBE officially launched the four day “Period of Silence,” during which campaigning is prohibited under the electoral directive.

During this period, political parties, candidates, and supporters are barred from conducting campaign activities, holding election related public events, or participating in media interviews connected to the election.

NEBE said the measure is intended to give voters time to reflect independently before casting their ballots.

Ahead of the election, NEBE announced that more than 50.5 million Ethiopians have registered to vote, describing it as the largest voter registration exercise in the country’s history and one of Africa’s largest democratic exercises.

Citizens registered either through the “Mirchaye” mobile application or in person at polling stations nationwide.

According to NEBE, more than 5.5 million voters used the digital platform, while the remaining voters completed their registration manually.