Ethiopia election set for June 1 as Prosperity Party expected to secure landslide

Ethiopia will hold its seventh general election on June 1, 2026. The National Election Board reports more than 50 million registered voters – about half of the country’s population – and 47 political parties plus 73 independents contesting seats in the 547‑member House of Peoples’ Representatives and regional councils. The ruling Prosperity Party, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, currently holds over 500 seats and is projected to win a decisive majority, while opposition groups remain fragmented and weak.

Security concerns affect turnout in the populous Amhara, Oromia and Tigray regions, where ongoing ethnic conflicts and humanitarian crises persist. Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyanata leads a delegation of 73 African Union observers, emphasizing the election’s regional importance. At the same time, Amnesty International warns of a growing crackdown on independent media: journalists face arrests, accreditation revocations and an “oath” imposed by the election board that critics say limits press freedom.

The election coincides with heightened calls for national reconciliation, development projects and debates over Ethiopia’s federal system, while youth and women constitute a sizable share of the electorate.