Yehager Kasma – Sayat Demissie, Kuku Sebsbie, Rahel Girma, Zeritu Kebede

Stakeholders working to make the 6th National Election free and fair
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6th National Election Free The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) said it is working in a participatory manner to ensure fairness and transparency.

US Special Envoy to East Africa Jeffrey Feltman and US Senators Prepare for Elections The Ethiopian National Electoral Commission (NEC) has responded to a written request for a fundamental change by extending the election to make it fair and transparent.

Competing political parties and other stakeholders have been actively participating in the May 28, 2013 national elections since its inception, the letter said.

Out of the 49 licensed political parties, 48 have fielded 9,000 candidates, educated more than 190 national civic organizations, and are working with 32 national institutions to observe the election, the board said.

The Electoral Board said political parties and their candidates are playing a constructive role in the election process.

This year’s national election is being held more transparently than ever before, the Board said, adding that work has been done to address the issue of credibility in previous national elections.

At present, the proposed reforms are not recommended in terms of cost, time and other factors, the board said.

Therefore, the Board called on all stakeholders to abide by the election laws by strengthening the reforms that have been carried out so far to conduct the national elections.

The Board also thanked the United States Government for its support to Ethiopia’s transition to democracy through USAID. The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has called on the United States to continue its support for democracy in Ethiopia.