ADDIS ABABA, June 21 — Abiy Ahmed is likely to continue his role as Ethiopia’s prime minister after his Prosperity Party won a significant parliamentary majority in the June 1 elections. The party took a substantial number of seats, according to the results released on Sunday. The voting in several polling stations was suspended due to security issues, and no voting took place in northern Tigray for a second consecutive election.
Abiy Ahmed’s journey to the top job began long before he became the prime minister of Ethiopia in 2018. In the 1990s, he had a career with the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF), before leading Ethiopia’s cyber-intelligence service INSA.
He first became known nationally as a politician in 2010, when he rose through the ranks of the Oromo People’s Democratic Organization (OPDO). The results of the June 1 elections were released on Sunday, after voting in several polling stations was suspended due to security issues. Abiy is now awaiting the formality of election by the House of Peoples’ Representatives.
His party’s win has secured him another term as the prime minister of Ethiopia, a position he has held since 2018. Abiy burst onto the world stage as a young, dynamic leader of Ethiopia in 2018.
At the time, he was considered a young and dynamic African leader, though his reputation as a peacemaker has been tarnished in recent years. Since taking office, he has attracted both strong supporters and fierce critics, reflecting his polarizing leadership. Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party won a comfortable parliamentary majority, with a significant number of seats.
The exact number of seats is nearly 90%, according to the election results. The party’s win has secured Abiy’s position as the prime minister of Ethiopia, and he is likely to continue his role in the coming term. As Abiy awaits the formality of election by the House of Peoples’ Representatives, his party’s win has been marked by the absence of voting in northern Tigray for a second consecutive election.
The security issues that suspended voting in several polling stations have also raised concerns about the election process. Despite these challenges, Abiy’s party has emerged with a significant majority, securing his position as the prime minister of Ethiopia.
Looking ahead, Abiy’s continued leadership will likely be marked by both domestic and international scrutiny. His reputation as a peacemaker has been tarnished in recent years, and his party’s win has been marked by significant security issues. As the prime minister of Ethiopia, Abiy will face the challenge of addressing these concerns while maintaining his position as a leader in the region.
The coming term will be crucial in determining the direction of Ethiopia under Abiy’s leadership. With his party’s significant majority, Abiy will have the opportunity to implement his policies and address the challenges facing the country.
However, the absence of voting in northern Tigray and the security issues that suspended voting in several polling stations will likely remain a concern, and Abiy will need to navigate these challenges to maintain stability in the region.
