Polls Open in Ethiopia as Conflict Leaves Millions Unable to Vote

Addis Ababa, June 1, 2026 —Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has cast his vote in Ethiopia’s 7th General Election in his hometown Beshasha, joining millions of citizens participating in a vote widely seen as a significant moment in the nation’s democratic journey.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopians began voting Monday in a general election overshadowed by armed conflicts, political tensions, and the exclusion of entire regions from the process, raising concerns about the inclusiveness of the vote in Africa’s second-most populous nation.

The election is the seventh since the fall of Ethiopia’s military regime in 1991 and comes amid renewed instability in parts of the country. Millions of citizens are unable to cast ballots, including residents of the northern Tigray region, where voting has been suspended in all 38 constituencies.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is widely expected to secure another term, despite not being directly elected. Voters are choosing representatives to Ethiopia’s 547-seat parliament, with the party winning at least 274 seats, gaining the right to form the next government for a five-year term.

Abiy, 49, came to power in 2018 following widespread anti-government protests that ended the dominance of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, a coalition largely led by politicians from Tigray. He later dissolved the alliance and created the Prosperity Party, promising national unity and political reform.

Initially praised for releasing political prisoners and expanding political freedoms, Abiy won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 for helping end a long-running standoff with neighboring Eritrea.

However, critics say his administration has become increasingly intolerant of dissent. Opposition politicians and rights groups accuse the government of restricting political space, arresting opponents, and limiting media freedoms. Ethiopia ranked 148th out of 180 countries in the 2025 Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders.

The election is taking place against a backdrop of ongoing violence in the regions of Amhara and Oromia, where government forces continue to battle armed groups. The Fano militias in Amhara and the Oromo Liberation Army in Oromia have been engaged in prolonged conflicts that have displaced hundreds of thousands of people and caused significant civilian casualties.

Conflict-monitoring group ACLED reported that more than 9,400 people were killed in violence across the two regions in 2024.

Despite security concerns, authorities say most districts in Amhara and Oromia are prepared to hold elections. Opposition groups dispute that claim, arguing that insecurity has prevented effective campaigning in large areas.

The situation in Tigray remains particularly sensitive. The region, home to roughly six million people, has been governed by an interim administration since a 2022 peace agreement ended a devastating two-year civil war between federal forces and the Tigray People's Liberation Front. The conflict is estimated to have killed hundreds of thousands of people and pushed parts of the region toward famine.

Relations between Addis Ababa and Tigray’s leadership have deteriorated in recent months over disputes involving political representation, territorial claims, and the legal status of the TPLF, which is currently barred from participating in the election.

The vote also comes as tensions rise between Ethiopia and Eritrea, whose relations have cooled following disagreements over Ethiopia’s push for access to a Red Sea port.

While Abiy’s supporters point to infrastructure projects in Addis Ababa and economic reforms backed by international lenders as evidence of progress, critics argue that conflict and political restrictions threaten the credibility of the electoral process.

Results are expected to determine the composition of Ethiopia’s next government at a time when the country faces significant security, economic, and political challenges.

GAROWE ONLINE