Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed elected himself, has won a landslide victory in the country’s general election, with his party retaining a majority in parliament. The election was marred by controversy, allegations of political pressure and a record low turnout by opposition parties.
Abiy’s Prosperity Party won 438 of the 501 seats contested. The result means the party will form the new government, with Abiy set to be sworn in for another term in early October. The win is a boost for Abiy’s supporters, who believe he will continue the economic successes he has led and civil war in Ethiopia.
But some fear that internal divisions and security challenges facing Ethiopia, Africa’s second-most populous country, could worsen while Abiy is at the helm.
The 49-year-old leader first came to power in 2018, following massive anti-government protests. He was initially praised for his efforts to heal social divisions, although his actions angered politicians from the northern Tigray region, which had ruled the country for more than two decades.
A year later, he won the Nobel Peace Prize, notably for his efforts to end the long-running conflict between Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea.
But security experts fear the country could slide back into war, while deadly violent uprisings in the Amhara and Oromo regions show no sign of abating.
On election day, 143 polling stations failed to open in the country’s two most populous regions, due to security concerns over armed groups fighting the government. The Amhara-based Fano militia and the armed Oromo Liberation Front, OLA, both rejected the election and its results. The situation is also worrying in Tigray region, which is still recovering from a two-year civil war that ended in 2022.
Tigray region and its six million people, spread across 38 constituencies, have been completely excluded from the electoral process, amid fears of a resurgence of conflict. Tigray borders Eritrea, and during the conflict, Eritrean forces were allied with Ethiopian government forces. Eritrean forces have been accused of widespread abuses against civilians in Tigray, but have denied these allegations.
Overall, the situation in Ethiopia is currently tense, with widespread conflict in the Amhara, Oromo and Tigray regions. Armed groups fighting in these regions oppose the system led by Abiy Ahmed in Ethiopia, which could lead to serious challenges for the re-elected prime minister Abiy Ahmed.