162. Regarding the alleged violation of Article 13(1) of the Charter, the Respondent State submits that the Constitution guarantees the right of every individual to vote, be elected, and form or join a political organization, establishing a multi-party democracy. The Respondent State adds that it has enacted several legislations and directives to implement the right to participate in governance and hold elections, including the Amended Electoral Law, Revised Political Parties Registration Proclamation, Electoral Code of Conduct for Political Parties, Directive for the Registration of Candidates, Directive for the Registration of Electors, Directive Concerning the Procedure for Observers and Representatives of Political Parties, and the Regulation Concerning the Procedure for Determining the Apportionment of Government Financial Support to Political Parties. 163. The Respondent State further submits that the NEBE, an independent and autonomous entity, was established to ensure the transparency of elections with the responsibility of administering free and fair elections and has a comprehensive system of complainthandling mechanisms, ranging from the polling station level to the NEBE headquarters. The Respondent State also submits that appeals can be made to the Regional and Federal Supreme Courts in case of final decisions by the Regional Electoral offices and the NEBE, respectively. The Political Parties Joint Forum has been established to provide a platform for resolving election-related complaints through discussions between the parties involved. 164. The Respondent State asserts that after the political reforms in 2018, opposition political parties, including those in exile, were formally invited to participate in a national dialogue aimed at achieving free and fair elections, resulting in the conclusion of constructive dialogues between opposition parties and the Prime Minister. The Respondent State further states that it has invited several formerly banned political parties to return to the country and cancelled their terrorist designations to allow freedom to all political parties, irrespective of their ideologies. 165. The Respondent State submits that in March 2019, 107 Ethiopian political parties, including the ruling party, signed a Code of Conduct to guide their operations and political activities. The Respondent State also submits that the NEBE underwent a new management appointment process to ensure impartiality and professional integrity, and a proclamation to re-establish the National Electoral Board was adopted, along with a new Organizations of Civil Societies Proclamation. 166. Regarding the 2015 national elections, the Respondent State submits that 58 national and regional political parties participated, with ~ 31 ~ African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights 31 Bijilo Annex Layout, Kombo North District, West Coast Region, The Gambia, Phone: (220) 230 4361 Fax: (220) 441 05 04 Email: au-banjul@africa-union.org https:/achpr.au.int/