Ethiopia's ruling party wins landslide election but fears of new conflict rise
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party has retained its overwhelming parliamentary majority in elections overshadowed by conflict, repression, and low opposition participation, raising concerns about a potential return to war in the Tigray region.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party has secured a landslide victory in the country’s general election, winning 438 of the 501 contested parliamentary seats. Abiy is set to be sworn in for another term in early October. While his supporters hope for continued economic gains, many fear that internal divisions and security challenges will worsen.
The election was marred by conflict, accusations of repression, and minimal opposition participation. On election day, 143 polling stations failed to open in the Amhara and Oromia regions due to safety concerns from armed groups. The Fano militias in Amhara and the proscribed Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) in Oromia, both seeking greater autonomy, rejected the election and its results.
The situation remains tense in Tigray, which is still recovering from a two-year civil war that ended in 2022. The region and its six million residents were completely excluded from the vote amid growing fears of renewed fighting. The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) restored its pre-war administration just before the election, disbanding an interim body appointed by Abiy. Both sides accuse each other of violating the 2022 peace deal.
Eritrea, once an adversary, has now allied itself with Tigrayan leaders, raising the risk that any new conflict could draw in regional powers. Reports indicate that the TPLF is forcibly recruiting young men, though local authorities deny this. The United States and the European Union have called for de-escalation. Analysts warn that low-level tensions could escalate into a regional conflict centered on Tigray, as neither side shows willingness to negotiate.
