The travel alert pointed out that "U.S. citizens [should] ... maintain a high level of security awareness at all times and avoid political rallies, demonstrations, and crowds of any kind.

Beyene Petros was reported to have claimed to United States diplomatic personnel that "EPRDF cadres in Eastern Wolaita" attacked opposition party leaders and vandalized their cars when they attempted to register candidates in that part of Ethiopia.

According to Human Rights Watch, the government had a strategy to systematically close down space for political dissent and independent criticism.

[6] According to early results released by the election board, the EPRDF was on course for victory, leading the vote count in all of Ethiopia's regions.

[8][9] Human Rights Watch claimed the results were affected by government intimidation of voters over a period of months.

Both opposition groups said that their observers were blocked from entering polling stations during the election on Sunday, May 23, and in some cases, the individuals beaten.

The Ethiopian ambassador to the United Kingdom, Berhanu Kebede, claimed that voters had rewarded Meles Zenawi and his party for their achievements saying, "The government has registered successful development and growth policies.