ADDIS ABABA — Vote counting is underway in several regions of Ethiopia following the general elections. The National Election Board reported that the election was conducted successfully and in accordance with the law.
Melatework Hailu, chairperson of the National Election Board, said, "Vote counting has not yet been completed in the Sidama, Gambella, Amhara, and Somalia regions, and largely remains ongoing in Addis Ababa." She added, "The delay is primarily due to the long queues observed on Monday, despite the extension of voting until midnight."
Security incidents were reported at polling stations in the Oromia and Amhara regions. Voting resumed at some affected polling stations, but did not resume at 143 others. Hailu said there was nothing new at this time regarding polling stations that have not opened and where voting has not yet taken place due to security issues. It remains unclear whether voters at these 143 closed polling stations will receive another opportunity to cast ballots.
The elections took place in 50,000 polling stations across the country. A military presence was deployed in the capital city. The elections are being held to elect more than 500 members of the House of Representatives and members of local government councils. The House of Representatives holds the authority to select the prime minister.
The Tigray region did not participate in the elections. Organizers cited unfavorable conditions following a two-year civil war and ongoing political turmoil as reasons for Tigray's absence from the ballot. The Tigray region has been without federal representation for six years. Accredited civil society organizations monitored the electoral process, and observers from the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in Eastern Africa attended the elections. The official results and winning party will be announced after vote counting concludes.
No independent assessment was available for this report.