Ethiopian election body says local, foreign observers to monitor Somali poll

ADDIS ABABA, July 20, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — According to a report published by the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) said local and international election observers are expected to monitor the forthcoming national and regional assembly elections in Somali State in southwestern Ethiopia.

Office of the board said that it has so far issued 20 election observer IDs for international observers upon the request made by the Carter Centre and the European Union (EU).

The office said the African Union (AU) has also requested to deploy additional election observers. However, it added, AU has not yet notified the list of its observers.

The office said it has not so far obtained confirmation by international observers to monitor the voters’ registration process due to commence in the state shortly. The office added that both local and international observers who wish to take part in the process can do so by contacting the office.

Among the local institutions, only Initiative Africa has thus far requested to take part in the election, the office said.

It is to be recalled that the EU, the Carter Centre and the AU had deployed over 300 observers during the 15 May 2005 national elections.