Ethiopia defends election conduct, cites record turnout and positive African observers' reports

Ethiopia’s government has defended the conduct of the country’s June 1 general election, saying more than 54 million people registered to vote in what it described as the largest electoral exercise in the nation’s history, while pointing to positive assessments from African observer missions amid criticism from some international commentators.

In a statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister, the government said polling took place across more than 50,000 polling stations, with most opening on time and operating throughout election day. It said more than 10,000 candidates from 42 political parties took part in the vote.

The statement cited observer missions from the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which it said found the process “generally orderly” and noted the presence of party agents at polling stations. Domestic civil society observers were also referenced, with the government saying they were able to monitor “activities without obstruction at 99 per cent of polling stations.”

“As Ethiopians cast their votes on June 1, 2026, they did so with the conviction of firmly anchoring their country in a genuine democratic culture,” said the government.

The Office of the Prime Minister rejected criticism from some international commentators who had described the election as a foregone conclusion, calling such claims “factually inaccurate” and “disrespectful to the millions of Ethiopians who exercised a free and deliberate democratic choice.”

“Certain international commentators in a flurry of haphazard articles have described this election as a coronation and its outcome as a foregone conclusion. The Office of the Prime Minister categorically rejects these characterisations as factually inaccurate, analytically uninformed, and disrespectful to the millions of Ethiopians who exercised a free and deliberate democratic choice,” it said.

On security, the statement said armed groups had attempted to disrupt the electoral process through attacks on civilians, intimidation and efforts to restrict movement in some areas. It said state security operations had “prevented wider instability” and ensured voting could proceed in most parts of the country.

Beyond the election, the statement highlighted Ethiopia’s economic performance, saying growth had reached 9.2 per cent in the last fiscal year and was projected to exceed 10 per cent. It pointed to rising exports, easing inflation, and major infrastructure projects in energy, transport and industry.