NEBE Consults Stakeholders on Security Issues for the 7th General Election

The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) consulted on security issues related to the constituencies where the 7th general election will be conducted. The consultation took place in the presence of the Presidents of Regional States, Mayors of City Administrations, senior officials from security institutions, representatives of national political parties, and civil society organizations (CSOs).

The chairperson of NEBE, Melatwork Hailu, delivered the opening remarks. In her address, she explained that NEBE has been preparing for the 7th general election by incorporating lessons learned from the 6th general election and all subsequent post-election consultations. This preparation includes proposing amendments to proclamations and developing relevant directives in consultation with the respective stakeholders, aiming to ensure a free, credible, and democratic 7th general election.

Following the opening remarks, Biruk Wondwossen, head of the Operations Department of NEBE, briefed participants on the details of the peace and security reports from the constituencies, which were collected from regional states and security institutions and categorized as Green, Yellow, or Red. Participating political parties and civil society organizations shared their perceptions of the reports presented, and the Presidents of Regional States, Mayors of City Administrations, and senior officials from security institutions responded accordingly. Melatwork and Biruk also addressed participants' reflections on NEBE in general and the 7th general election in particular.

In her closing remarks, Melatwork acknowledged the participation of the Presidents of Regional States, Mayors of City Administrations, senior officials from security institutions, representatives of national political parties, and CSOs. She explained that the consultation clearly demonstrated that sharing perceptions would align all stakeholders toward a common goal and contribute to the democratization of the election. Furthermore, Melatwork stated that similar consultations on election operations and security matters would continue.