Africa-Press – Ethiopia. As Ethiopia prepares for its highly anticipated seventh general election on June 1, 2026, the African Union has applauded the country’s progress in promoting women’s leadership while calling for even greater female participation in the democratic process.
Speaking to ENA, Liberata Mulamula, the African Union’s Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security, emphasized that women’s involvement is critical to ensuring peaceful, credible, and inclusive elections.
“In almost all African countries, women are the majority, often standing in long lines with children on their backs just to vote. Their voice is powerful, and their vote matters,” she said.
Ethiopia has made notable strides in advancing gender equality in leadership since 2018, when sweeping reforms introduced a gender-balanced cabinet.
Women have since taken on some of the country’s most influential roles across government institutions, marking a significant shift toward inclusivity.
These efforts have boosted women’s representation in parliament to around 40 percent, widely seen as a milestone in Ethiopia’s political transformation, despite ongoing structural challenges.
With the upcoming election approaching, expectations are high that the momentum will translate into even greater representation of women in leadership positions.
Mulamula reaffirmed the African Union’s commitment to supporting Ethiopia’s democratic process, stressing the importance of safeguarding free, fair, and peaceful elections.
“The African Union is there to ensure that elections are conducted in a way that allows citizens to freely exercise their rights,” she stated.
Beyond voting, the envoy encouraged Ethiopian women to actively seek leadership roles, highlighting the unique contributions women bring to governance.
“Women leaders often focus on communities—on children, education, water, and social development. They prioritize issues that directly impact everyday lives,” she noted.
According to Mulamula, increasing women’s participation at all levels of the electoral process will not only strengthen democratic stability but also foster peace and accelerate national development.
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