ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (Horn post) Ethiopia is set to hold its federal parliamentary elections, with attention focused on the country’s ethnically based seat allocation system and the presence of major international observer missions aimed at ensuring transparency and credibility.
The House of Peoples’ Representatives is elected through a federal parliamentary system in which seats are distributed among regional states and city administrations as follows:
* Tigray: 38 seats
* Amhara: 138 seats
* Harari: 2 seats
* Somali: 23 seats
* Afar: 8 seats
* Oromia: 178 seats
* Benishangul-Gumuz: 9 seats
* Gambela: 3 seats
* Southwest Ethiopia: 20 seats
* Southern Ethiopia: 49 seats
* Addis Ababa: 23 seats
* Sidama: 19 seats
* Central Ethiopia: 35 seats
* Dire Dawa: 2 seats
Ethiopia’s parliamentary system is based on a federal structure in which members of parliament are elected rather than appointed, reflecting the country’s ethnic and regional administrative divisions.
International Observation and Oversight
The election is being closely monitored by international and regional bodies. The African Union has deployed a 73-member team of short-term observers drawn from 37 countries to assess the electoral process across the country.
In addition, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Election Observation Mission to Ethiopia 2026 has been actively engaged in pre-election coordination and monitoring activities.
Ahead of the vote, Dr. Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe, head of the IGAD mission, met with former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who leads the African Union Election Observation Mission (**African Union Election Observation Mission**). The two leaders discussed coordination mechanisms, observer deployment strategies, and timelines for releasing a preliminary report scheduled for June 3, 2026, in Addis Ababa.
Media Access and Transparency
Authorities have licensed more than 1,800 journalists to cover the election on the ground; a move officials say is intended to promote transparency and broaden public access to election-related information.
Observers and analysts say the scale of international monitoring and media presence underscores the significance of the vote for Ethiopia’s political stability and democratic process.
Background
Ethiopia operates a federal parliamentary system in which voters elect members of parliament who, in turn, shape national governance. This election is being closely watched both domestically and internationally due to its potential implications for political cohesion and regional stability in the Horn of Africa.
Prepared by:
Horn post staff
