AMN Plus-May 30, 2026
The Head of the African Union Election Observer Mission (AUEOM) and former Kenyan President, has underscored the importance of Ethiopia’s 7th General Election, describing it as an event of great significance not only for Ethiopia but for the entire African continent.
Kenyatta arrived in Addis Ababa on Friday evening to lead the African Union Election Observer Mission tasked with monitoring Ethiopia’s 7th General Election, scheduled to take place on Monday, June 1, 2026.
Upon his arrival at Addis Ababa bole international airport , he was welcomed by , Director General for European and American Affairs at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Speaking to the media, Kenyatta emphasized that the election carries significance far beyond Ethiopia’s borders and represents an important democratic milestone for Africa as a whole. He noted that the African Union’s election observation missions are designed to strengthen democratic governance through African-led solutions, the sharing of experiences, and the exchange of best practices among member states.
Kenyatta further highlighted Ethiopia’s unique position as the host nation of the AU, stating that developments in the country hold particular importance for the continent. Consequently, he said, the outcome and conduct of Ethiopia’s election are of keen interest not only to Ethiopians but also to Africans across the continent. Expressing confidence in the Ethiopian people, Kenyatta said that a wise and thoughtful electoral choice would contribute to strengthening the country’s stability, unity, and future development.
The African Union observer mission is currently conducting briefing and orientation sessions focusing on Ethiopia’s political and legal framework, the electoral process, and the Union’s principles for credible, transparent, and peaceful elections.
The mission has deployed 73 observers drawn from 37 African countries, with women comprising 61 percent of the delegation. The team includes election experts, civil society representatives, human rights advocates, gender specialists, media professionals, and youth representatives. On election day, observers will be deployed across various regions of Ethiopia to monitor critical stages of the electoral process, including the opening of polling stations, voting procedures, vote counting, and results tabulation.
The participation of observers from 37 African countries reflects the continent’s strong commitment to African-led election observation, democratic governance, and the promotion of credible electoral processes.
IGAD’s involvement is expected to further strengthen regional cooperation in support of democratic governance, political stability, and electoral credibility across East Africa and the Horn of Africa.
The election is widely viewed as an important opportunity to demonstrate the growing role and effectiveness of African-led election observer missions in promoting and safeguarding democracy across the continent.
According to the NEBE, more than 54 million Ethiopians have registered to participate in the 7th General Election scheduled for Monday.
