Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta Arrives in Addis to Lead AU Mission for Ethiopia Elections

Addis Ababa, May 29, 2026 —Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has arrived in Addis Ababa to lead the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) ahead of Ethiopia’s general elections scheduled for June 1, 2026.

Members of the African Union observer mission, alongside representatives from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), also arrived in the Ethiopian capital on Thursday to support the election observation process.

The observer mission has already begun orientation and briefing sessions focused on Ethiopia’s political and legal framework, the electoral process, and African Union principles aimed at promoting credible, transparent, and peaceful elections.

According to mission officials, the African Union has deployed 73 short-term observers drawn from 37 African countries, reflecting strong continental commitment to African-led election monitoring and democratic governance.

The observer team comprises ambassadors accredited to the African Union, election management professionals, civil society representatives, election experts, human rights specialists, gender and media experts, as well as youth representatives.

Observers are expected to be deployed across various regions of Ethiopia to monitor critical election-day activities, including the opening of polling stations, voting procedures, vote counting, and the tabulation of results.

IGAD’s participation further strengthens the regional dimension of the mission, reinforcing cooperation on democratic governance, electoral integrity, and stability across the Horn of Africa.

Ethiopia’s upcoming general election is widely viewed as an important test of the country’s ongoing institutional reforms and the expanding role of Pan African-led observation missions in enhancing democratic credibility and electoral transparency across the continent.