Millions Cast Ballots as Ethiopia Holds Nationwide Elections
Polling centers opened at 6 a.m. throughout the country, and reports indicated that large numbers of voters arrived early, forming long lines at many locations before voting began.
More than 54 million registered voters are eligible to take part in the election. The contest features over 10,000 candidates representing 42 political parties, including Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s ruling Prosperity Party. Ballots are being cast at approximately 52,000 polling stations nationwide for both federal and regional positions.
However, voting is not taking place in the Tigray region due to continuing instability linked to the conflict that occurred between 2021 and 2022. In addition, elections have been suspended in eight constituencies within the Amhara region because of security concerns associated with the Fano armed movement.
International and regional observers are monitoring the electoral process. Members of the African Union Election Observation Mission, headed by former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, visited polling locations as voting commenced.
“Democracy is something that we in the African continent would like to entrench so that we have true representation, a feeling of inclusion, and the ability for people to choose the leaders of their choice,” Kenyatta said.
Despite the large-scale voting operation, some opposition leaders have raised concerns regarding the overall competitiveness of the election. Veteran opposition politician Merera Gudina, who leads the Oromo Federalist Congress, stated that his party’s participation was largely “symbolically” and intended mainly to preserve its legal status.
Another opposition figure, Mistreselasie Tamrat of the Coalition for Ethiopian Unity, argued that rival parties faced significant obstacles in reaching voters, particularly in the Amhara and Oromia regions. He said opposition groups lacked “enabling conditions” necessary to conduct effective election campaigns.
As a parliamentary republic, Ethiopia’s next government will be determined by the composition of the federal parliament elected in the vote, with lawmakers ultimately deciding the country’s prime minister. According to political analysts cited in reports, the most probable outcome is that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party will retain its dominant position within the country’s political landscape.
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