Ethiopia opposition raises alarm over upcoming elections

A group of Ethiopian opposition political parties on Saturday said the country’s upcoming national election could not be inclusive, fair, or credible under the current candidate registration process, citing a lack of transparency and what they described as politically motivated administrative barriers.

In a joint statement, the parties said opaque procedures introduced by the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) risk undermining democratic participation ahead of the seventh national election, scheduled to take place in the coming months.

“The 7th National Election, given its lack of transparency and the opaque candidate-registration procedures and process, cannot be an inclusive, fair, credible, and democratic election,” the statement said.

The parties accused authorities of continuing a pattern of political manipulation and of ignoring long-standing demands for equal political rights. They said past sacrifices by citizens — including imprisonment, displacement, property destruction, and loss of life — had not resulted in justice or democratic reform.

They warned that problems were already emerging at the early stage of candidate registration, eroding what they described as a fragile political environment.

According to the statement, NEBE failed to adequately consult political organizations on a new digital candidate registration system, despite publicly outlining its development and providing training to registrars. Party leaders were not given sufficient opportunity to examine, test, or approve the system, raising concerns about its reliability and fairness, particularly given Ethiopia’s limited technological access.

The parties also criticized several registration requirements, including mandatory birth certificates, house plans, email addresses, and short time limits for online identity verification. They said these conditions were unrealistic for many candidates, especially in rural areas.

The statement further underlined what the parties described as unequal application of electoral rules following the division of the former Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region into four separate regions. They said the ruling party was allowed to register additional regional council candidates per electoral district based on regional government decisions, “without opposition parties being informed.”

The parties also warned that a system feature allowing candidates to “withdraw independently,” without party authorization, could expose opposition candidates to pressure, coercion, or inducements to exit the race. “This approach is even worse than prior elections,” the statement said, alleging it could eliminate opposition participation before election day.

The parties called on the government to enter “genuine negotiations” with competing political groups to agree on reforms that would “ensure a level playing field free from interference by ruling-party officials.” They also urged authorities to prioritize national peace and security by facilitating the return of displaced citizens, pursuing ceasefire arrangements with armed groups, and safeguarding citizens’ rights to vote and stand for election.

This was not the first statement released by Ethiopian opposition groups. In November 2025, a coalition of opposition parties outlined what it described as fundamental preconditions for a credible election, including equal access to media, freedom of assembly, and guarantees of security for candidates and voters. The coalition argued that without these reforms, elections risk being seen as illegitimate.

Around the same time, the Joint Council of Ethiopian Political Parties sent an official letter to NEBE, the House of People’s Representatives, and the Prime Minister’s Office, warning that the current legal framework and security environment do not allow political parties to operate freely. The council urged comprehensive reforms, including strengthening NEBE’s independence, revising restrictive laws, and ensuring transparency in voter registration and ballot counting.

The Ethiopian elections and the concerns raised by opposition parties come at a time when the country is grappling with internal crises. Ethiopia faces a multi‑front insurgency and persistent conflicts across Oromia and Amhara, regions that have seen escalating violence and instability.

At the same time, tensions are resurfacing in Tigray, where the Pretoria Agreement — signed to formally end the devastating two‑year war — remains in limbo, with its implementation stalled and trust between parties eroding. These overlapping challenges have created a hostile political and security environment, raising doubts about whether the 2026 elections can be conducted in a free, fair, and inclusive manner. Opposition groups argue that without meaningful reforms and guarantees of safety, the vote risks deepening divisions rather than fostering national reconciliation.