Uhuru engages IGAD as AU prepares Ethiopia election assessment in Addis Ababa
By Kenneth Mwenda, June 2, 2026The fourth Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who heads the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM), has spent Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Addis Ababa holding a series of meetings as observers prepare to release their preliminary findings on Ethiopia’s June 1, 2026, general elections.
The meetings come as the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) finalise their separate but coordinated assessments of the polls. The two bodies are expected to present their initial statements at a joint press conference in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
Kenyatta met his IGAD counterpart, former Ugandan Vice President Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe, to compare notes on the conduct of the elections. The two leaders reviewed reports from their respective observer teams deployed across Ethiopia on polling day.
A statement from the African Union Political Affairs, Peace and Security department said the two heads of mission discussed “the conduct of the recently concluded elections” and aligned their early observations ahead of the public briefing.
“The Heads of the AU Election Observation Mission (#AUEOM) and the IGAD Election Observation Mission to the 1 June 2026 General Elections in Ethiopia, H.E. Former President @4thPresidentKE and H.E. Former Vice President @SpeciosaW, respectively, compared notes on the conduct of the recently concluded elections,” the X statement reads.
The AU mission, led by Kenyatta, and the IGAD mission have both been in Ethiopia since before polling day, engaging electoral authorities, civil society groups and diplomatic missions as part of their mandate.
Uhuru other engagements
On Tuesday, June 2, 2026 Kenyatta also visited the Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE) in Addis Ababa. He was taken through their monitoring systems and briefed on their activities during the election period.
CECOE officials explained their role in voter education, election observation and civic engagement. They also highlighted their advocacy work on electoral reforms and inclusion of women, internally displaced persons and persons with disabilities in the political process.
The AU said CECOE’s work forms part of broader domestic efforts to improve transparency in the electoral process and strengthen participation in Ethiopia’s democratic system.
“H.E. Former President @4thPresidentKE of Kenya and Head of the African Union Election Observation Mission (#AUEOM) to the 1 June 2026 General Elections in the Federal Democratic Republic of #Ethiopia, visited the Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE) in Addis Ababa,” the X statment reads.
“He was given a tour of their ongoing operations in monitoring the conduct of the elections and briefed on their mandate and activities including election observation, civic and voter education, as well as advocacy and inclusion; advocating for reforms in the electoral legal regime and prioritizing the political inclusion of marginalized segments of society, including women, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and persons with disabilities (PWDs).”
Kenyatta also met representatives of non-African diplomatic missions in Addis Ababa. According to the AU statement, the discussions focused on the conduct of the elections and early impressions from observers and diplomatic stakeholders.
These engagements followed a busy election period in which the AU deployed observers across Ethiopia to monitor voting, counting and early results processes. The mission included experts in elections, governance, human rights, gender and youth participation.
Election features broad contest
More than 50 million Ethiopians were registered to vote in the election, according to the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE). Women made up nearly half of the electorate, while young people formed a large share of voters, with the country’s median age estimated at about 19 years.
The election brought together 47 political parties and more than 10,900 candidates contesting seats in the House of Peoples’ Representatives and regional councils. A total of 73 independent candidates also participated.
The ruling Prosperity Party, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, entered the election as the dominant political force after its 2021 victory. Opposition parties included the National Movement of Amhara (NAMA), Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice (EZEMA), and the Peace for Ethiopia coalition, alongside regional and ethnic-based parties.
Voting took place under Ethiopia’s federal parliamentary system, where members of parliament are elected first, and then select the prime minister. The outcome will determine the balance of power between the federal government and regional states.
However, the election also faced challenges. In some regions affected by insecurity, including parts of Amhara, Oromia and Tigray, polling was limited or suspended. The National Election Board of Ethiopia said it adjusted voting arrangements in certain areas due to security concerns.
Despite these disruptions, AU observers have continued their assessment of the process, focusing on areas where voting took place and on overall electoral conduct.
Kenyatta, speaking earlier during the mission, stressed the importance of African-led election observation. He said the AU’s role was to support democratic processes across the continent through shared experience and engagement.
Kenyatta also said democracy in Africa must continue to be strengthened so that citizens feel fully represented and have a real say in choosing their leaders. He said voting remains central to governance because it gives people the right to select those who represent them.
“Democracy is something that we, as Africans, seek to strengthen and entrench across the continent so that people can enjoy true representation, feel included in governance, and have the opportunity to elect leaders of their choice,” he said.