GCS Honors Media Institutions, Journalists for Role in Successful 7th General Elections

Addis Ababa, June 16, 2026 (ENA) —The Government Communication Service (GCS) recognized media institutions and journalists for their outstanding contribution to the successful coverage of Ethiopia’s 7th General Elections and for effectively communicating the democratic process to both domestic and global audiences.

Speaking at the recognition ceremony, Minister of Government Communication Service Enatalem Melese said the Ethiopian people had written a new chapter in the nation's history by choosing the path of peace, constitutional order, and the rule of law.

The minister emphasized that the collective efforts of national media institutions played a decisive role in promoting informed public participation throughout the electoral process.

Their extensive reporting, she noted, contributed significantly to safeguarding national stability and strengthening public confidence in the election.

Enatalem further stated that the coordinated work of Ethiopian media organizations placed the country's supreme national interest above all other considerations during a critical period for the nation.

She also commended media outlets for their role in countering coordinated disinformation campaigns aimed at creating confusion among the public and pushing the country toward a constitutional crisis.

“The harmonized work of the national media placed the supreme national interest above all else, dismantling conspiracies designed to drag the nation into a constitutional vacuum,” the minister said.

Describing local media as a strategic national asset, Enatalem noted that Ethiopian media institutions have increasingly emerged as reliable sources of information, contributing to the protection of national sovereignty, the promotion of peace, and the strengthening of democratic values across the country.

Media executives who attended the event reaffirmed their institutions’ commitment to informing the public and ensuring broad access to accurate information throughout the electoral process.

Chief Executive Officer of the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), Seife Deribe, highlighted the agency’s extensive election coverage, noting that ENA organized 19 political debates in five local languages and established a media emergency response center that broadcast more than 1,000 news reports daily through its 35 domestic branches.

Seife also noted that ENA activated its “Pulse of Africa” platform and strengthened cooperation with 30 regional and international news agencies to counter misinformation and provide timely, fact-based reporting.

 

Similarly, Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) CEO, Biniyam Ero, said the corporation established a dedicated election bureau and, for the first time, conducted multilingual political debates aimed at enhancing public engagement and fulfilling its national public broadcasting mandate.

He added that close collaboration with the Government Communication Service contributed significantly to the successful management and coverage of the electoral process.

Director General of Oromia Broadcasting Network (OBN), Fiseha Belayneh, stated that the network launched a 100-day election countdown campaign and introduced the digital “OBN Dashboard,” enabling real-time monitoring of constituencies and candidates.

According to Fiseha, OBN mobilized extensive human and technical resources to provide election coverage in 19 languages, including Arabic and English, while delivering more than 200 live broadcasts from across the country.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Amhara Media Corporation, Muluken  Setiye  for his part, highlighted the institution’s phased election communication strategy, which focused on raising public awareness about voter registration and participation while overcoming operational and security-related challenges in the field.

He noted that the experience demonstrated the growing capacity of Ethiopian media institutions at both federal and regional levels to provide professional election coverage.

ENA learned that the recognition program underscored the pivotal role played by Ethiopian media organizations in facilitating public access to information, encouraging civic participation, and supporting a peaceful and transparent electoral environment during the country's 7th General Elections.