Ethiopia's Prosperity Party clinches overwhelming parliamentary majority

Ethiopia held a general election on 1 June 2026. The ruling Prosperity Party, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, secured 438 of the 501 contested seats in the House of Peoples’ Representatives – roughly 90 % of the legislature. Voter registration topped 50 million in a country of about 130 million, with official turnout reported at 94 %.

The vote was conducted amid significant insecurity. In the Oromia and Amhara regions, 143 polling stations remained closed because of clashes with the Oromo Liberation Army and the Fano militia. The northern Tigray region, still recovering from a 2020‑22 civil war that killed an estimated 600 000 people, was excluded from the election for “unfavourable conditions”. Opposition parties and observers described the process as constrained by intimidation, with several candidates barred, detained, or forced into exile.

Despite these challenges, the National Election Board announced that the new parliament will convene in October to re‑elect Abiy Ahmed for a second five‑year term. Analysts warned that the exclusion of Tigray and ongoing armed opposition in Oromia and Amhara could spark renewed conflict. The government projects economic growth of over 10 % in 2026, one of the fastest rates on the continent, while the Prime Minister, a 2019 Nobel Peace Prize laureate for the 2018 Eritrea peace deal, faces growing criticism over alleged authoritarian drift.