Ethiopia Election Countdown: Ethiopia’s June 1 general election enters mandatory electoral silence as campaigning ends, with NEBE saying preparations are complete and more than 54 million voters registered; in Degehabur, election materials are being delivered to 38 polling stations ahead of 6:00 a.m. opening. AU Election Monitoring: Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, leading the African Union observer mission, met Ethiopia’s diplomatic and regional partners in Addis Ababa to review security and readiness, with AU observers already briefing for the vote. Political Stakes and Polarization: Commentaries ahead of polling warn the contest is shaped by insecurity in regions like Tigray and Amhara, restrictions on opposition space, and a dominant Prosperity Party expected to win again. Business Watch: Ethiopia’s post-election business community is focusing on policy predictability and continuity of reforms, while analysts flag how polarization could complicate consensus. Healthcare Investment: DOC Holding Group from Qatar says it is expanding in Ethiopia through planned 500-bed hospital projects and talks with Addis Ababa and the health ministry on public-private partnerships. Climate Finance Push: At an Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa, leaders urged a shift from “climate aid” to “climate investment,” calling for fair financing for adaptation and renewables. Agroforestry Research Drive: A new intra-Africa agroforestry program led by JKUAT with Addis Ababa University aims to train MSc/PhD students and strengthen climate-mitigation research across several African countries.