Prosperity Party Secures Landslide Victory in Ethiopia’s General Election

Ethiopia’s ruling Prosperity Party has won a commanding majority in the country’s general election, handing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed a strong mandate to govern for another five years despite significant security challenges and the exclusion of voters in several conflict-affected regions.

Preliminary results released by the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) show the Prosperity Party capturing the vast majority of seats in the House of Peoples’ Representatives, with reports indicating around 462 seats secured – well above the 274 needed for a majority. Abiy Ahmed comfortably won re-election in his Oromia constituency.

Opposition parties gained only a small number of seats, including one notable victory for the National Movement of Amhara in Gondar. The election, held on June 1, was the seventh general vote since Ethiopia’s current federal system was established.

More than 54 million voters were registered (a record number) with women making up approximately 46 percent of the electorate. Voting took place across roughly 52,000 polling stations in most parts of the country, but was entirely suspended in Tigray and in several constituencies in Amhara and Oromia due to ongoing security threats.

In areas where polls opened, observers described the process as largely peaceful, with long queues at many stations forcing election officials to extend voting hours in some locations.

The African Union, IGAD, and domestic monitors noted high turnout where voting was possible, effective management by over 195,000 election officials, and the presence of party agents. However, NEBE was forced to close around 143 polling stations on election day because of insecurity linked to clashes involving Fano militias in Amhara and the Oromo Liberation Army in Oromia.

The election occurred against a complex backdrop of unresolved conflicts as no elections were held across Tigray, still recovering from the 2020-2022 war, while violence in parts of Amhara and Oromia restricted both campaigning and access. Some opposition groups complained of an uneven playing field, including restrictions and arrests, while the Prosperity Party pointed to its achievements in infrastructure development, economic reforms, and relative stability in much of the country.

NEBE employed new technologies, including digital registration and GIS mapping, to manage the vast process. Vote counting and verification extended beyond the initial target, with final certification still pending in some districts as of mid-June. The overall outcome, however, has not been in doubt.

The decisive victory allows the Prosperity Party to continue its “Homegrown Economic Reform” agenda, which focuses on market-oriented policies, attracting private investment, and promoting national unity. Abiy Ahmed is expected to be formally reappointed as prime minister when the new parliament convenes. The party and its affiliates also dominated regional council elections held on the same day.