NEWS IN BRIEF
Ethiopia
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Wednesday (June 10) congratulated Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, on the historic milestone of leading India with vision and determination across three consecutive democratic mandates, becoming India’s longest-serving Prime Minister.
The Office of the Prime Minister issued a press statement on Friday (June 5) on recent issues, including the National Election, development progress, and security-related matters. According to the statement, the 7th National Election was conducted on 1st June 2026 with more than 54 million registered voters. (See article)
Minister of Foreign Affairs Gedion Timothewos on Wednesday (June 10) held discussions with Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu. On the occasion, Ethiopia’s Minister of Justice, Hana Arayaselassie, and Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, signed an Agreement on the Exchange or Transfer of Sentenced Persons between the two countries.
Foreign Minister and COP32 President-Designate Gedion on Tuesday (June 9) briefed African ambassadors on preparations for COP32 during the 42nd Quarterly Session of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa’s briefing to African ambassadors at the ECA Headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Minister Gedion received the European Union Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, on Monday (June 8), where the two sides held discussions on matters of mutual interest.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Union held the 2nd Ethiopia-EU Roundtable on supporting the Ministry’s institutional reform on Friday (June 12). On the occasion, State Minister Ambassador Hadera Abera underscored the importance of partnership and collaboration in building a modern, agile, and resilient diplomatic institution.
Speaking at an awareness-raising forum on the Digital Ethiopia 2030 Strategy and digital transformation initiatives on Friday (June 12), State Minister Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye underscored the importance of strengthening digital capacity to ensure Ethiopia remains an integral part of an increasingly competitive global environment.
The Permanent Representative of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Ambassador Lemlem Fiseha, presented her letters of credence to UNECA Executive Secretary Claver Gatete on Tuesday (June 9).
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Ethiopia was officially launched in Ottawa, Canada, on Saturday (June 6) in the presence of government officials, diplomats, business leaders, members of the Ethiopian diaspora community, and stakeholders from both countries.
Kenya
President William Ruto is on a one-week economic diplomacy tour of Europe that began on Sunday (June 7), aimed at attracting foreign investment, expanding market access for Kenyan exports under the EU trade agreement, and strengthening partnerships in technology, renewable energy, and trade.
South Sudan
The Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, concluded the Third Diplomatic Training Programme for South Sudanese diplomats in Addis Ababa. The five-day programme, held from June 5–9, focused on key issues shaping Africa’s diplomatic landscape, including Pan-Africanism, modern diplomacy and negotiation, hydro-politics, transboundary resource management, peacekeeping, conflict resolution, and peacemaking.
Africa and the African Union
Chairperson of the African Union Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on Tuesday (June 9) received Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos. The two sides discussed ongoing African Union institutional reforms, with particular emphasis on the sustainable financing of the Union.
Prime Minister’s Office Issues Statement on the 7th National Election, Development Progress, and Current Affairs
The Office of the Prime Minister issued a press statement on Friday (June 5) on recent issues, including the National Election, development progress, and security-related matters. According to the statement, the 7th National Election was conducted on 1st June 2026 with more than 54 million registered voters.
The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) reported that more than 50,188 of the country’s 52,000 polling stations opened on schedule and served voters throughout election day. The election also featured broad political participation, with more than 10,438 candidates representing 42 political parties competing for seats in the House of Peoples’ Representatives and regional councils, reflecting the extensive scale and inclusiveness of the electoral process, the statement indicated.
The African Union Election Observation Mission, composed of 83 observers drawn from 37 African countries and headed by former President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta, described the election as having been “conducted within a legal and institutional framework that broadly supports democratic governance.”
Similarly, The IGAD Election Observation Mission, headed by former Vice President of Uganda, Speciosa Wandira-Kazibwe, stated in its published preliminary report that the election reflected major progress in institutional arrangements, administration, and the use of technology. The Mission also characterized the election as an “Election of Many Firsts.”
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, on its part, reported that it observed no human rights violations during the voting process, while also the Coalition of Civil Society Election Observers (CECOE), which deployed 65,299 observers nationwide through its 55 accredited organizations, indicated that it was able to observe activities without obstruction in 99 percent of polling stations.
While credible national and continental institutions provided their assessments of the election, some international commentators have portrayed the election as predetermined with an inevitable outcome, the statement indicated. The Office of the Prime Minister, however, categorically rejected such characterizations describing them as factually inaccurate, analytically uninformed, and disrespectful to the millions of Ethiopians who exercised a free and deliberate democratic choice. The statement further noted that claims of a predetermined outcome are inconsistent with the extensive presence of 83 independent observers from 37 African countries, 65,299 domestic civil society monitors, and 1,100 accredited international journalists.
According to the press statement, extensive preparations were undertaken more than a year in advance to ensure that the electoral process would be conducted fairly, inclusively, and peacefully. Significant attention and resources were also devoted to safeguard the constitutional right of citizens to vote and ensure that the election could proceed without security disruptions.
Preparations also included security and intelligence measures aimed at addressing efforts to obstruct citizens’ freedom to vote, disrupt public order, restrict movement, and create insecurity in various parts of the country. The statement noted that the Government would continue to take proactive measures to address such threats and had successfully prevented similar attempts to disrupt the electoral process in various parts of the country both before and during the election period.
In this regard, the Prime Minister extended his appreciation to all Ethiopian citizens who participated in the electoral process. He also expressed gratitude to the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), its more than 350,000 deployed officials, and the security forces for their contributions to the successful conduct and protection of the election. The Prime Minister further commended African and regional observer missions, whose presence reflected Ethiopia’s commitment to democratic accountability.
The statement also highlighted that citizens participated in the electoral process while simultaneously expressing a clear aspiration for continued national development and economic progress. In this regard, it was stated in the statement that Ethiopia’s economy recorded a growth rate of 9.2 percent in the 2024/25 fiscal year and is projected to reach 10.2 percent in 2025/26, driven by strong performance across agriculture, industry, and services.
The statement also noted that total export earnings are expected to rise significantly, while inflation has continued to decline toward single-digit levels despite external pressures in global markets. It further indicated that no new commercial loan agreements have been concluded with foreign sources since the launch of the Homegrown Economic Reform Agenda.
According to the statement, major infrastructure and energy projects, including the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and renewable energy initiatives such as the Aysha II Wind Power Plant and the Assela Wind Farm, were highlighted as central to ongoing national transformation, alongside the Bishoftu International Airport project. In addition, the Government is positioning Ethiopia as an early adopter of artificial intelligence and Industry 5.0 frameworks, recognizing the growing importance of innovation, digital systems, and data-driven technologies in supporting the country’s long-term development objectives.
The statement further indicated that developments in agriculture and industry, particularly the construction of the Gode Urea Fertilizer Plant and regional initiatives in the Borena Zone, constitute key pillars of inclusive growth.
Regarding the manufacturing sector, the statement underscored notable progress, including increased capacity utilization, higher industrial growth, expanded financing for small and medium enterprises, and the inauguration of the Grandeur Ceramic Manufacturing facility in Mojo.
Meanwhile, the statement addressed coordinated security incidents involving armed groups in the Amhara, Oromia, and Arsi regions, as well as clandestine cells in Addis Ababa, aimed at disrupting public order through attacks on civilians, movement restrictions, and attempts to incite division. These incidents were described as part of broader attempts to generate instability, undermine public security, and disrupt democratic processes. In response, intelligence and security operations were undertaken to thwart planned attacks, dismantle clandestine networks, and prevent road blockages and other disruptions. Despite these efforts, the situation has been brought under control, while coordinated security operations against those responsible remain ongoing.
Reaffirming the Government’s position on political participation and national stability, the statement stressed that political grievances should be pursued through Ethiopia’s constitutional framework, the National Dialogue process, and established democratic institutions. It further emphasized that violence against civilians cannot be justified under any political narrative and reiterated that extremism has no place in the country’s political landscape.
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