Report of the African Union Election Observation Mission to the 21 June 2021, Parliamentary Elections in the Federal Republic of Ethiopia.

Abstract

Ethiopians voted on June 21, 2021, in the 6th General Elections since 1995 to elect Members of the House of Peoples’ Representatives (HoPR), Regional State Councils, and City Councils. Held amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts in Tigray, and disputes with Sudan and over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the elections marked a pivotal moment in Ethiopia’s democratic development. The African Union (AU) deployed a Long- and Short-Term Election Observation Mission, led by H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, to assess compliance with AU and international democratic election standards. The Mission observed that the elections were largely peaceful, orderly, and aligned with Ethiopia’s legal framework. The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) conducted the process transparently despite logistical, operational, and security challenges, exacerbated by its staff's lack of experience due to reforms since 2019. The reforms had broadened political freedoms, enabling greater civic participation, though some opposition figures were detained, and boycotts by key parties like the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) limited inclusivity. On election day, voter turnout was high, and polling was mostly smooth despite delays in some areas. Results, announced on July 10, 2021, showed a landslide victory for the Prosperity Party (PP), which won 406 of 436 HoPR seats, amid concerns over unusually high voter turnout in specific regions. The Mission recommended strengthening democratic governance, fostering national reconciliation, and enhancing NEBE’s capacity to improve future elections.