By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Ethiopia, June 04, 2026 - Japan has joined a growing list of international partners commending Ethiopia for the conduct of its 7th General Election, praising the country's electoral authorities and citizens for their role in what has been described as one of Africa's largest democratic exercises.
In a statement issued by the Embassy of Japan in Ethiopia, Tokyo congratulated the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) for successfully organizing and administering the June 1 polls, which attracted millions of voters across the country.
The election saw more than 54 million registered voters eligible to participate, with over 10,000 candidates from 42 political parties and independent groups contesting seats in the federal parliament, regional councils and city administrations.
Japan acknowledged the significant logistical effort involved in conducting a nationwide election of such scale and praised the work of electoral officials who managed the process.
The embassy also extended congratulations to candidates who participated in the election, describing their involvement as an important contribution to Ethiopia's democratic development.
In addition, Japan recognized the role played by Ethiopian citizens who turned out to vote, emphasizing that public participation remains a cornerstone of democratic governance and institutional development.
The Japanese statement reflects the country's long-standing support for Ethiopia's efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, governance systems and public administration.
Ethiopia and Japan have maintained diplomatic relations for decades, with cooperation spanning infrastructure development, education, healthcare, agriculture, governance reform and economic development.
Japan remains one of Ethiopia's key development partners through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which has supported numerous projects aimed at strengthening public institutions and promoting sustainable development.
Analysts say Japan's endorsement carries significance given its consistent support for governance and institutional capacity-building programs across Africa.
Japan's remarks come as international observer missions and diplomatic partners continue issuing assessments of Ethiopia's electoral process.
Earlier this week, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) released a preliminary report describing the election as a significant milestone in Ethiopia's democratic journey. The regional bloc praised electoral reforms, technological innovations and the peaceful participation of millions of voters.
The African Union Election Observation Mission, led by former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, also welcomed the generally peaceful conduct of voting and commended citizens for exercising their democratic rights.
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Speaking on Election Day, Kenyatta noted that elections provide citizens with an opportunity to choose their leaders and strengthen democratic governance across the continent.
The European Union Delegation in Ethiopia, alongside diplomatic missions from EU member states as well as Canada, Norway and Switzerland, similarly welcomed the holding of the election and commended the efforts of electoral authorities, political parties and civil society organizations.
The British Embassy in Addis Ababa has also congratulated NEBE on the completion of the voting phase and praised candidates, election officials, observers and volunteers who contributed to the process.
The endorsements come as Ethiopia remains in the vote-counting phase following the June 1 election.
NEBE has begun aggregating results from constituencies across the country, with preliminary outcomes expected in the coming days and final certified results scheduled to be announced on June 11.
More than 40 million voters are estimated to have cast ballots during the election, which was conducted in 501 of Ethiopia's 547 constituencies.
However, voting did not take place in the Tigray region, while some constituencies in parts of Amhara and other areas were unable to participate because of security and logistical challenges. Elections in those areas are expected to be held later this year.
As counting continues, the growing number of positive international assessments is likely to strengthen confidence in the electoral process, even as observers await the final results and comprehensive reports from regional and international monitoring missions.
For Ethiopia, the election represents another important step in an ongoing effort to consolidate democratic institutions while navigating the political, economic and security challenges facing the Horn of Africa nation.