Somali Region Votes as Ethiopia Holds Seventh General Election

By Mohamed Abdi - Reporter

Jigjiga (Dawan Africa) – Residents of Ethiopia’s Somali Region headed to the polls for the country’s 7th general election, which began nationwide today.

The one-person, one-vote election will determine members of Ethiopia’s Federal Parliament and regional councils, with political parties and independent candidates competing for seats at both federal and regional levels.

The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) said 54,057,861 voters have registered for the election, making it one of the largest voting exercises ever held in the country.Somali Regional State is among the regions where voting is taking place. In the early hours of the morning, election activity was reported in several towns and districts across the region.

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The election board has not officially released the specific number of registered voters in Somali Regional State, but it has confirmed the nationwide figure. Voting is also taking place in other regions of Ethiopia, although some areas have been affected by security and political challenges.

The election is under close watch both inside Ethiopia and across the Horn of Africa, as its outcome could shape the country’s political direction, regional representation, and stability in the wider region.