The Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organisations has become the first to be recognised by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) to observe the national elections on Tuesday, March 9, 2010.

The coalition has 10 member organisations, including the Ethiopian Employers' Federation (EEF), the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU), Ethiopian Teachers' Association, Ethiopian Women Traders' Association, Ethiopian Patriots' Association, Ye Ethiopia Hidase Mahiber, Ethiopian Youth Federation, Ethiopian Women's Federation, Ethiopian Tour Operators Association and the Ethiopian Lawyers Association. It was formed on January 2, 2010.

"There have been requests to the NEBE previously," Mohammed Abdurrahman, head of Public Relations at the board, said. "But the coalition is the first to fulfil the requirements of nationality, impartiality and other requirements."

The coalition, formed with the instigation of the EEF and CETU, plans to deploy observers to over 40,000 polling stations, according to Tadele Yimer, chairperson of the coalition and president of the EEF.

The observers will come from each of the organisations, which together boast over 400,000 members, according to Kassahun Folle, president of CETU and vice chair of the coalition.

Observation reports will be made commonly through the coalition.