Technology, participation mark Ethiopia's election

Regional election observers have praised Ethiopia's adoption of new electoral technologies and strong voter participation in its seventh general election, describing the process as a notable step in the country's efforts to strengthen democratic institutions despite persistent security challenges.

The polls on Monday were the second general election held since 2018 after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was elected. As one of Africa's most populous nations and a key diplomatic player on the continent, developments in Ethiopia are closely watched by regional governments and international partners.

Preliminary assessments released on Wednesday by observer missions from the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development highlighted improvements in election administration, voter registration and electoral inclusion, while acknowledging that insecurity continued to affect parts of the country.

According to the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia, more than 50.5 million citizens registered to vote, surpassing the board's initial target and marking a significant increase from the previous general election. More than 5.5 million voters registered through digital platforms under a hybrid digital-analog registration system.

The observer missions hailed the use of technology as one of the election's defining features, including GIS-based mapping that leverages geographic information systems to digitize, analyze, and visualize voting centers, digital voter registration tools and special voting arrangements for internally displaced people and members of the security services.

The board was hailed for its administrative and operational capacity, with the observer team saying the measures helped improve accessibility, transparency and efficiency in the management of the vote.

Commendable way

"The way the election board conducted the 7th General Election is commendable," the AU and IGAD observer teams said during a media briefing on Wednesday, citing the institution's neutrality, technological preparedness, inclusiveness and election administration.

According to the observer missions, voting was successfully conducted in 501 constituencies, although polling did not take place in the Tigray region and parts of Oromia and Amhara due to security and operational challenges.

Overall, while more than 50,000 polling stations were operational, 143 failed to open due to security issues, according to media reports.

Speciosa Wandira-Kazibwe, head of the IGAD Election Observation Mission, described the level of public engagement as one of the most remarkable she had witnessed during election observation assignments across Africa.

"We have never encountered the level of public participation we saw in Ethiopia in other countries," she said.

Former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta, who led the AU Election Observation Mission, also welcomed the conduct of the polls and praised efforts undertaken by Ethiopian authorities to strengthen election processes.

Final election results are expected to be announced within one to two weeks after voting concludes, in accordance with Ethiopia's electoral law.

sharon@chinadailyafrica.com