By Tesfa Mogessie
ADDIS ABABA
The African Union (AU) Election Observation Mission on Wednesday called on Ethiopian political parties and candidates to exercise restraint to ensure that next Sunday's parliamentary polls were conducted in a credible, transparent and peaceful environment.
Next Sunday, Ethiopia will hold its fifth national election since the fall of the Derg regime in 1991.
"The [AU] mission has deployed four teams of long-term observers in eight regional states, including capital Addis Ababa; visited 20 districts; and consulted with 104 interlocutors," mission head Hifikepunye Pohamba said.
Pohamba, a former president of Namibia, described Ethiopia's pre-poll political atmosphere as "calm" and "stable."
He expressed confidence that Ethiopia's official electoral commission would be able to conduct free, fair and credible polls.
Pohamba said the commission had assured his mission that it would safeguard all poll-related materials before, after and during the balloting.
The commission, he added, had created appropriate conditions in which political parties could file complaints in case of irregularities.
"Some political parties have been following the legal procedures in order to lodge complaints," Pohamba said, calling on all political parties to adhere to the appropriate legal mechanisms.
He added, however, that the mission still had concerns regarding Ethiopia's media law, anti-terrorism law and civil society law.
He said some observers believed these laws served to limit citizens' political rights and restrict free expression.
The AU mission called on concerned institutions to expedite the resolution of poll-related complaints, asking the media to help raise awareness of these issues among Ethiopian voters.
Ethiopia beefs up security ahead of Sunday poll
The Ethiopian authorities have beefed up security ahead of upcoming general elections slated for Sunday.
Signs of a heavy police presence were visible across capital Addis Ababa, especially inpublic areas and along main roads and boulevards.
Ethiopia is set to hold its fifth parliamentary election on Sunday, in which 58 parties will vie for 547 seats in the House of Peoples' Representatives and seats on the country's regional councils.
Some 36.8 million Ethiopians are registered to cast ballots.
Ethiopia's official electoral commission on Wednesday urged citizens to vote and leave polling stations in a timely manner to help the voting process go smoothly.
"Voters are expected to cast ballots at their respective polling stations and then just go home," Addisu Gebregziabher, deputy head of the electoral commission, told reporters.
He also called on voters to come to polling stations empty-handed.
"Even pens are available at the polling stations," he said.
Addisu warned party supporters not to show up near polling stations wearing promotional T-shirts and caps, or any other electioneering materials.
He said all necessary polling materials – including indelible ink – had been distributed at polling stations countrywide.
Redwan Hussein, head of the Government Communications Affairs Office, said earlier that security forces and police were prepared – both "psychologically and technically"– to deal with any possible disturbance.
The U.S. State Department last week issued a warning to its citizens in Ethiopia, calling on them to show caution and avoid public areas.
Some 58 political parties are expected to contest Sunday's elections at both the federal and state levels.
